Miriam Stacy McCoy, 97 of Maxwell, passed away Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Miriam was born at home in Osage, Iowa, on December 11, 1926, the daughter of Burton Fonda and Vernis Nettie (Bucknam) Stacy. Growing up, she helped her dad on the family dairy farm. Miriam graduated from Osage High School in 1944 and from Iowa State University with a degree in Home Economics in 1948. Later that year, she was united in marriage to Frank James McCoy on August 22.

Miriam taught Home Economics at Roland High School, but spent most of her life as a dedicated mother and housewife, occasionally filling in as a substitute teacher. She was a 4H leader for the Washington Willing Workers and looked forward to being a vendor at the Des Moines Farmer's Market. Miriam lived a life of service. She volunteered for hospice and babysitting. She enjoyed spending time in her vegetable garden and often canned her harvest.

Miriam was a wonderful seamstress and made clothes for many members of her family. She adored children, especially her grandchildren. If you were to visit her home, you would always leave with some sort of goodie, that she made.

But she would want to be remembered for more than just baking cookies. "Serving" describes her well --- and it is an attribute of God himself. "... he will dress himself and serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them."--- Luke 12.

She knew that being comfortably well-off was not the main goal in life. She did not "store up treasure for herself but she was rich toward God." The God whose standard is perfection but who loved us enough to take the punishment we deserved upon himself. And now, like Jude says, she is "standing in his presence, blameless, with great joy."

Ninety-seven years is not a long time when compared to eternity. Psalm 78 says our lives are like a passing breeze that does not come again. If you want to honor the memory of Miriam's life well-lived, make certain that you will see her some day in heaven. She would urge you to consider what Christ has done for you, offering you eternal life if only you ask forgiveness for your shortcomings and for Christ to make you the kind of person that he created you to be.

Miriam is survived by her children, Colleen (Steve) Payne of West Des Moines, Sharon (Timothy) VanFosson of Iowa City, Norman James McCoy of Maxwell and Bryan (Cindy) McCoy of Windsor Heights; her grandchildren, Nathan (Tanis) Payne, Danielle (Adam) Vandehaar, Alex (Sarah) VanFosson, Luke VanFosson (Megan Martin), Kate (Neil) Harte, Stacy (Gabe) Grenell and Kelly McCoy; and her great-grandchildren, Jacob, Eleanor, Declan, Dillon and William. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her sisters, Elizabeth Hollatz and Jeanne Neal.

Miriam has been cremated and a memorial service will be held on April 20 at 11 am. There will be a visitation at 10. She will be laid to rest at the Osage Cemetery in Osage, Iowa.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is caring for Miriam. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com.