Died Feb. 15, 2013. Madeline was born in Sylvania, Ohio on April 2, 1918. In 1940, she married Robert A. McCoy. During WWII, his Naval duty required them to live many places on the west coast. After the war, they moved to Santa Barbara, CA., which was their home for 22 years, while Robert was a professor at the University in Santa Barbara. During this period of time, Madeline and her husband served 2 years on a USAID assignment through the University of California, in Nigeria, West Africa. Later, Madeline and Bob were “Special Term Missionaries” in Nairobi, Kenya, for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, in 1970 and 1971.
Retirement brought them to Hendersonville, North Carolina, where they resided until December, 1982. They then moved to Given Estate United Methodist Retirement Community in Asheville, North Carolina, where Bob died in 1994. While there Madeline was active with the United Methodist Women, serving in several offices and leading bible study groups. She sang in church choirs in Santa Barbara, Nairobi and Hendersonville, and was a member of the Hendersonville Chorale. Upon her husband’s passing, Madeline returned to Santa Barbara, where she married long-time family friend Sidney Smith.
Madeline is survived by her two daughter, Kathleen Abbott and Barbara Goosman, and her second husband Sidney Smith, two daughters, Cathy Haas and Carol Schlerf, and four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. A graveside service and internment will be at Sheperd Memorial Park, Hendersonville, North Carolina, on March 13, 2013 at 11:00 am.
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