Mary Virginia (Cowell) Coy, 95, passed away at her home in Apache Junction, AZ, on Monday, April 3, 2017.

The daughter of William Biard and Phoebe Sparks Richardson, she was born near Martinstown in Putnam County on April 12, 1921. She grew up on the family farm east of Martinstown where she attended school playing basketball for the infamous Martinstown Greyhounds.

Upon completing her schooling, she married Willis Edward (Eddie) Cowell on January 29, 1939. There were four children born to this union. The family lived in various places in Adair and Schuyler Counties during their marriage including a short time in Rock Island, IL. Mary took an active interest in the farm operation and was kept quite busy with the growing family and their various athletic activities. After the passing of her husband in 1957, she and the family moved to Greentop, MO. While living in Greentop she worked at several jobs, but she most enjoyed working at the Bell Grocery Store for Kenneth and Susie Bell. She would always visit them when returning from Arizona each year until failing health prevented the annual event.

On September 2, 1967, she was united in marriage to Billie James Coy in Phoenix, AZ. Mary and Bill were extremely busy during their years together boating, fishing, and attending their sons’ soccer games. They traveled across country and spent time with and attended school activities of their four granddaughters. Each year they would travel to northern Missouri to attend the Coy Family Reunion and the Richardson Family Reunion. Living in Arizona they were visited by many family and friends from the Midwest and winter visitors from the northwestern states and Canada. As a couple, they had the unique ability to make friends—even with their doctors and nurses.

Mary is survived by her husband, Billie; her daughter Evelyn (Martens) Brantner and husband, Ronald, of Kirksville, MO; sons Gerald “Gary” Cowell and wife, Connie, of Lancaster, MO, Willis “Ed” Cowell and wife, Dee, of Mesa, AZ, and Edward Coy of Mesa, AZ; granddaughters Amy Dillard and husband, Jake, of Apache Junction, AZ, Jennifer Burbridge and husband, Rich, of Coolidge, AZ, Michele Strelke and husband, Daniel, of Del Rio, TX and Kimberly Berrones and husband, Joe, of Mesa, AZ; grandsons Mark Martens and wife, Terri, of Daytona Beach Shores, FL and Nathan Cowell and special friend, Lottie Gitmed, of Chula Vista, CA; and sisters-in-law Doris Richardson and Evelyn Richardson both of Unionville, MO. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Willis E. Cowell; a daughter Carole Deanna (in infancy); her parents William and Phoebe Richardson; brothers Jessie Richardson (in infancy), Noah P. Richardson, Nova Richardson, Berdean Richardson, Eugene Richardson, William Richardson and George Richardson; sisters Genevieve Butler and Levina Mitchell.

Services will be held at the Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, MO at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2017, with Carlos Coy officiating. Visitation has been set for one hour preceding the service. Memorials may be directed to the Martinstown Cemetery. Travis-Noe Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Gerald "Gary" Cowell, Willis "Ed" Cowell, Edward Coy, Nathan Cowell, Mark Martens and Rich Burbridge.

Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.