Thomas E. McCoy
https://www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com/obituary/thomas-mccoy
August 2, 1938 - July 1, 2023
Thomas Ernest McCoy, 84, passed away on July 1, 2023, at the Cedar Village Long Term Care in Ness City, Kansas. Tom was born in Ness County on August 2, 1938, at the Ransom Hospital and was the son of Neal and Mary (McVicker) McCoy. He was proud to be the fourth generation of his family to live in Ness County.
Tom survived the same plane crash that killed his father in 1952. It was a pivotal moment in his life, and he described how he and his brother, Larry, with the help and support of their neighbors, had to take on much of the responsibility of the farm at an early age.
After graduating from Ness City High School in 1956, Tom enlisted in the Army and served two years, including being stationed in South Korea from 1957 to 1958.
After he left the Army, he returned to the farm before attending one semester at Kansas State University in the fall of 1962 and attending Fort Hays State University in the spring and fall of 1963.
Tom had again returned to the farm when he met Joy Carpenter, and they married on September 26, 1964, in Dodge City.
Tom and Joy’s daughter, Sandra, was born in 1966, and the family moved to Pueblo, Colorado, in the fall of that year so that Tom could return to school, although they returned to Ness City each summer so he could continue to farm with his brother.
Tom earned an associate's degree in electronic technology from Southern Colorado State College (now Colorado State University at Pueblo) in 1968.
In the fall of 1968, Tom sold his share of the farm to his brother, Larry, and moved with his wife and daughter to Wichita, Kansas, where he worked as an electronic technician with Sears-Roebuck for 1 1/2 years and then as a salesman for a radio supply company.
His son, Brett, was born in 1969.
In 1971, Tom moved his family back to Ness City, and he began what became a very long career in the oilfield business. His first oilfield job in the area was pumping for the Pickrell Oilfield Company, and in 1976 he bought out the oilfield tank trucks from Hembree Oilfield Service and started CarMac with his brother-in-law, Ben Carpenter. Tom and Joy bought out Ben’s share in 1978 and continued the business until 1989. After selling their business, Tom returned to full-time pumping and continued working, at least part-time, as a pumper until he experienced a stroke in the fall of 2022.
Family and friends were very important to Tom, and he loved visiting and telling stories, especially about family and the history of the area. During any Ness County Old Settlers Reunion, he could probably be found sitting on a corner visiting with old friends or cousins. Tom (call sign WA0THN) also enjoyed visiting with others via ham radio and belonged to the local ham radio club.
Tom is survived by his wife, Joy McCoy, of Ness City; daughter, Sandi (Greg) Kramos of Manhattan; son, Brett (Vanessa) Ault-McCoy of Redmond, WA; grandson, Dathan Ault-McCoy of Redmond, WA; brother-in-law, Bob Schniepp, of Madison, WI; niece, Jill Schniepp (Holly) of Madison, WI; niece, Cindy (Garry) Huk, of Fort St. John, BC; sister-in-law, Anne (John) Weatherill, and nephews, Jeremy and Vincent, all of Chilliwack, BC; sister-in-law, Linda Wickman, and niece, Kim (Scott) Warner, all of Pueblo, CO; nephew B.J. (Tara) Carpenter, of Moody, AL; niece, Kim (David) Snider, of Clinton, OK; nephew, Kirk (Robin) Schwartzkopf, of Ness City; and numerous cousins.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Lois Schwartzkopf and Vera Schniepp; his brother, Larry; and his brother-in-law, Alfred Schwartzkopf.
Cremation has taken place and service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Cedar Village LTC or the Ness County Hospital.
Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family by signing the guestbook.
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