Grandma McKoy

2 August 1927 - 9 December 2007

Sunday evening my dad's mother passed away. I have been thinking all day about what I would write on our blog as a tribute to her and probably the best thing I can do is to make a list of things or memories I am grateful for. But first, a quotation: 'Mercies and blessings come in different forms—sometimes as hard things. Yet the Lord said, "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things" (D&C 59:7). All things means just that: good things, difficult things—not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another evidence of His love.' -Sister Bonnie D. Parkin Though this is a bittersweet time, and some days we will feel more of the bitter than the sweet, I know that being grateful for Grandma and the memories I have of her will make me happy. I choose to write in the present tense for some of these. Family members: leave comments with your favorite memories, or what you are grateful for concerning Grandma. I AM GRATEFUL THAT...

• Grandma tells the best stories and probably has the best memory of anyone I know (maybe next to President Monson!).

• when Grandma lived with us she would take walks in circles in the family room to get exercise. I don't know if anyone ever saw her do this but she claimed to do it while we were at school/work.
• she had certain soap and toothpaste she used, at least in the latter decade of her great life: Camay soap and GLEEM toothpaste. I never did like that GLEEM.
• I know that death is not the end and that we will see Grandma again! This brings me so much peace.

• Grandma was able to be in the temple with us the day Jeff and I were married.
• families are forever

• I grew up always knowing Grandma, and living close by her for much of my life.

• Grandma and I both wore hearing aids. (I still need mine! But she doesn't!)
• Grandma had a testimony of The Book of Mormon and of tithing (here is a video about her testimoney of tithing)
• she taught me this little poem:

Late one day in the middle of the night Two dead boys got up to fight Back to back they faced each other Drew their swords and shot each other The deaf police man heard the noise Came and shot the two dead boys If you don’t believe my story’s true

Ask the blind man, he saw it too.

• she used let me sit on her lap or run up to her and say "ding-dong!" while I pressed the mole on her forehead
• she raised my dad
• she taught me to play "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin-Eater" on the piano
• she came to my band concerts, even when they were too loud for her I'm sure
• she and Grandpa accepted the Gospel in 1961
• she was and is a hard worker
• our birthdays were only 2 days apart
• Jeff and I took videos of her on Mother's Day 2006
• Grandma bought me a bubble gum ice cream treat at a park one summer day, even though she thought it sounded disgusting
• she always told me the story of when I was little (4) and I thought my Grandpa was dressed up as Santa and I said to him, "Are you my grandmother's husband?"
• Grandma shared her chocolate Velamints!
• the missionaries who served in Grandma and Grandpa's missions still care for them
• she let me and Jamie have sleepovers at her houses in Lovettsville and Arlington
• she let me go with her to get the mail from the P.O. box she had near Lovettsville
• one time at dinner she mentioned that she liked asparagus a lot, but especially when it is "young and tender." Erin and I both looked at each other across the table and said, "babies?" You had to be there.

• she lived in Herndon Harbor House for a while so we could go there and hang out
• she had a crisper on her counter that had these great, tasty and big cheese crackers in it when she lived in Arlington
• she introduced me to Vienna Sausages, our meat of choice now for our 72 hour kits (I would eat them even if it wasn't an emergency - they always remind me of her and how she cooked up some VS and eggs for breakfast once after one of our sleepovers)
• she was so particular about her foods. Salads with no dressing, hamburgers from BK with just mustard, her "about a 1/2 a cup" servings, had to be careful with strawberries or they'd make her legs break out, fried chicken, and boy did she love tomatoes! She also introduced me to apples with a sprinkle of salt - I still love it. (here is a video about, amoung other things, her love of tomatoes)
• I took time to go visit her on my own the times I did these last few years whenever I was at home
• she asked me to sing "I Am a Child of God" to her once a couple years ago at the care center in Fairfax
• she has passed on great recipes to her kids so that we can still enjoy her good cookin', in a way. I wasn't a witness to it, since it happened before I was born, but she always told amazing stories (at least in my mind) of how she would prepare fabulous meals for entire wards.
• Jeff and I were able to do temple work for many of Grandma and Grandpa's ancestors in this last year. There is still much more to be done. I'm also grateful that I was able to tell Grandma that we were doing this, and hear how excited she was.

And lastly, I am grateful, SO grateful, that I was lucky enough to take Jacob to Virginia last month to meet my Grandma. The memory of her holding and stroking his tiny, chubby little baby hand will always remain with me and I'm excited to tell Jacob about it when he's old enough to understand. I love you, Grandma!