Lawrence “Larry” Joseph McCoy was born on September 4, 1934 in Worthington, MN to parents Lawrence and Mildred McCoy. He was the first-born child of a family of 10 children. He graduated high school in Worthington in 1952 and went on to Worthington Community College and Mankato State where he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education.
Larry met the love of his life, Laura Thiner (Brewster, MN), while attending community college. They were united in marriage on August 16, 1958 and started their family in Canby, MN with the births of their first four children. Life was interrupted when Larry went into the Army, leaving Laura to manage things at home for a year. In 1967 they moved to Alexandria where Jeff was born. Larry and Laura raised their family in Alexandria’s Victoria Heights and lived happily in lake country for over 50 years.
Larry’s teaching career began in Canby’s middle school and eventually the Canby Technical School. Larry got the opportunity to move to lake country and teach computer programming at the Alexandria technical school. Larry was self-taught in computer science.
Larry loved sports of all types - including hockey, baseball, basketball, football, fishing, hunting and golf. He was a fine golfer who shot his age at 76. He passed his love of sports on to his children and grandchildren. He and Laura cheered on Cardinal sports teams for decades.
On April 3, 2021, Larry passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was preceded in death by Laura, his wife of 61 years, his mother and father, and his brothers Patrick and Joseph.
He is survived by siblings: Gerald, Mary, Clem, Kathleen, Mike, Therese, and Margaret; his children: Greg McCoy of Charleston SC, Steve (Lynne) McCoy of Eden Prairie, Nancy (Mike) Barthold of Brooklyn Center, Tom (Lori) of Eagan, and Jeff (Erin) McCoy of Alexandria and ten grandchildren: Megan, Ryan, Jack, Sam, Rebecca, Kaitlin, Sean, Shannon, Isaac and Brady.
A Private Family Service will be held on Friday, April 9, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria due to ongoing COVID-19 recommendations. This service will be live-streamed and recorded for family and friends to view from Larry’s obituary page on the Anderson Funeral Home website at 11 AM on Friday. Entombment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alexandria Cardinal Athletic Foundation in honor of Larry and Laura McCoy. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net
