Merle A. (Mac) Mccoy

Merle 'Mac' Austin McCoy, 92, of Carlisle, died on October 6, 2014, at his home in North Middleton Township. He was born in Dickinson Township on September 12, 1922 to Merle Leland and Lillian (Zimmerman) McCoy. The oldest of seven children, Mac left school after the seventh grade to help support his family. Once old enough, he began working as a carpet weaver at C H Masland & Sons before taking a hiatus to serve his country. Mac served in Headquarters Co. of the 141st Regiment of the 2nd Battalion of the 36th Division in Europe during World War II. During the war, he personally was awarded the Silver Stars with an oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead, Combat Infantry Badge and his company was also awarded a Presidential Citation.
Upon returning home, Mac returned to his position at C H Masland & Sons; he married Helen Mountz on February 2, 1946. He was a proud member of Fraternal Order of Eagles, White Circle Club and the 36th Division Association. Mac retired from C H Masland & Sons in 1987 and devoted his time to serving his family and his friends. It was not uncommon on a hot summer day to find Mac outside enjoying views of North Mountain while mowing his lawn, his neighbor's lawn or an elderly relative's lawn with his push mower. No matter how hot it was outside, mowing the grass put a grin on his face from ear to ear. He finally had to give up his favorite past time due to faltering health when he was 88 years old.
Mac is survived by his wife of sixty-eight years, Helen (Mountz) McCoy, his daughter, Bonnie Snyder (Gary) of Carlisle, his son, Merle "Mick" McCoy, Jr. of Carlisle, four grandchildren, Toni (Tim) Goril of Boiling Springs, Lori McCoy of Mechanicsburg, Stacy Snyder of Carlisle and Natalie Snyder of Baltimore, MD, two great-grandchildren, Robert Goril and Garrett Goril of Boiling Springs. He is also survived by four sisters, Mary Ellen Boyd, Janice Flury, Margie Bair and Norma Jane (Dave) Miller, Sisters-in-law Mary Lamma, Martha Mountz and Pauline McCoy of Carlisle and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased in death by a grandchild, Victoria Goril, and two brothers Gerald and Marlin and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 11, 2014 at Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home, 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle with Rev. Robert Stauffer officiating. Private burial will be held with military honors at Cumberland Valley Memorial Gardens at the convenience of the family. A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Horizon Hospice, 1200 Camp Hill Bypass, Suite 201, Camp Hill, PA 17011 or McClure's Gap Church of God, 130 Church of God Road, Newville, PA 17241.
To sign the guest book visit www.hoffmanroth.com