Carol Jean McCoy

CAROL JEAN McCOY, age 81, passed away on the morning of Friday, September 5, 2025.

Carol was born in Mankato on May 18, 1944, to parents Elmer and Ruth (Allen) Maass. She grew up on a farm outside of Pemberton, MN and graduated from Waldorf-Pemberton High School in 1962. This is where she met her future husband, Bob McCoy. From high school, she moved to the “big city” of Mankato where she started her career working for the telephone company as a telephone operator. Her most vivid memory of working at the switchboard was the day JFK died; she said how the switchboard was lit up all day and night. She would work her whole career at the phone company, surviving the name changes and working in various departments.

In 1965, Carol and Bob got married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Waldorf and had a daughter, Tracy. Family was very important to her; she adored her family members and had a special place in her heart for children. Carol loved to play cards and games at family gatherings, and she was famous for remembering everybody’s birthday. You knew you were special if you got a card or a birthday song in a voicemail.

Bob and Carol built their house in Eagle Lake in 1976, and she spent almost 50 years in the house they worked so hard to make a “home”. Carol loved to be a part of activities with her friends including the Over 40 MCTC softball team, playing tennis, going to plays at Mankato State University, volunteering at Saints Peter and Paul’s church and league bowling, to name a few.

The year 2000 brought a new joy to her life, her granddaughter Mackenzie. After Carol retired from the phone company, she devoted most of her time to doting on Mackenzie, from coming up to the Twin Cities to take care of her during the week in the summer, to going to garage sales and taking her to Disney World.

Carol is preceded in death by her husband Bob McCoy, brother Duane Maass, sister Bea O’Brien, parents Ruth and Elmer Maass, nephew Shaun Allen Maass, mother- and father-in-law Clementine and Wayne (Bud) McCoy.

Carol is survived by her daughter Tracy (Donovan) McCoy, granddaughter Mackenzie Taylor, brothers Marvin (Bev) Maass, Merlin (Kathy) Maass and brother-in-law Mike O’Brien, along with in-laws Donny (Kelly) McCoy, Sharon (Scott) Kaplan, John (Jana) McCoy and Debra (Eric) Seagrist. She also had a large extended family with dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca, with Father Glenn Frerichs officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour before the service at the church. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.