Becky J. Coit

Amherst, Va. Becky J. (Stevens) Coit, 70, of Amherst, formerly of Rockland, Mass., died Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at her residence. She was the widow of Leo P. Coit. She was born in Plympton, Mass., Aug. 18, 1937, daughter of the late Melvin H. and Lois A. (Dean) Stevens and was raised and educated on the South Shore. Although her schooling was interrupted, she was very proud that she graduated with a full high school diploma from Rockland High School in 1989. Her career was as a hairdresser, working with several shops in the Rockland area. She worked at His n Hers Hair Design for 18 years, until her retirement in 2003. Her customers loved her as she did them, maintaining friendships after she relocated to Amherst. She is survived by her three children, Leonard Newcomb of Springfield, Vt., Robin DeMeo of Rockland and Nanci McLellan of Amherst; as well as her grandchildren, Steven Newcomb, Christopher Newcomb, Renee DeMeo, Marino DeMeo, Kristinna McLellan and Rebekkah McLellan; one great-grandchild, Malik Newcomb; her stepchildren, Richard Coit of Halifax, Mass., Mary Provonche of Pembroke, Mass., Diane Simpson of Carver, Mass., Patty Chandler of Plymouth, Mass., and the late Christine Luce. Also surviving are her mother, Lois A. Stevens of Lynchburg; one sister, Nancy Corkum of Woodstock, Vt.; and three brothers, Robert Stevens Canton, N.C., Melvin (Meb) Stevens Jr. of Middletown and Richard (Dick) Stevens of Amherst; her former husband, Raymond Newcomb; and her best friends, Faith Stevens and Judy Casagrande. Becky was devoted to her family until the time of her death. After her children were grown, she devoted herself to helping others, with a special dedication to veterans. She was a president of the Ladies Auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1788 Rockland. As the state chairman for POW-MIA, Becky planned and executed over 400 candlelight ceremonies and flag raisings for POW-MIA, in the northeast states and served as coordinator and master of ceremonies for Vietnam Veterans Day for about 20 years. Becky has been involved in the collection and distribution to soldiers serving in Desert Shield and Storm, Bosnia, Afghanistan, the Philippines and the Iraq War. She was awarded the Civilian Award for Public Service in 1986 from the Department of the Army at Fort Devens and also was awarded a Life Membership in the Special Forces Association at Fort Bragg, NC, No. A-999, and the Molly Pitcher Award for outstanding service to the field artillery community. Having worked on the Abington, Mass., Rockland, and Whitman, Mass., Veterans Day events, she was selected by the Tri-Town Committee to be the first female non-veteran in history to serve as grand marshal for the parade in 1999. She also worked with the U.S. Veterans-Vietnam ERA Post 2 SSG. Richard A. Fitts Chapter as editor of their newsletter. Her unfulfilled dream was to serve in the military, but she felt she had done the next best thing. Among her other interests were her involvement in many local service organizations including being a Brownie, Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, Little League and softball coach, Sunday school teacher and a volunteer Santa Claus for local nursing homes V.A. Hospitals and homes for special needs children. Becky had also served as a member of the Rockland High School Band Boosters and was an election warden for the town of Rockland. She was a devoted auto racing fan. She loved writing poetry, people, history and reading. Her family requests that visitors wear patriotic attire to her calling hours in the Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home, 135 Union St., Rockland, Friday, June 27, from 5-8 p.m. A funeral service honoring her patriotic spirit will be held Saturday, June 28, at the funeral home at 12 p.m. Burial will be at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass., on her birthday, Aug. 18. Donations may be made to the Virginia Independent Farmers and Consumers Association, P.O. Box 915, Charlottesville, VA 22903, or the USV-VE POST 2 SSG Richard A. Fitts Scholarship Fund, c/o USV VE Post 2566, P.O. Box 2171, Abington, MA 02351. For directions or to sign online guest book, www.magounbiggins.com.