Gypo Logger
Peter Edward McCoy, 91, one of Clatsop County's well known gypo logging contractors died of cancer peacefully at home in Warrenton on March 28, 2007. He was at the beach for clam digging and in the garden planting peas up until the last week of his life.
Pete was born to Ethel Smith McCoy and John McCoy in Astoria on May 21, 1915. He attended school at Olney, John Jacob Astor, Cathlamet and Astoria High School. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. at the age of 17. Then he went gold mining on the Rogue River and to California where he worked on the building of the Oakland bridge. In 1936, he returned to Astoria and went to work for Crown Zellerbach as a choker-setter, rigging-slinger and Cat operator.
He married Thelma Gedenberg on January 28, 1936. They recently celebrated 71 years of marriage.
In 1950, Pete established his own logging company working with and for Crown Zellerbach. He was proud to provide his employees with profit-sharing. He fully retired in the 1980's and sold his equipment.
He and Thelma enjoyed traveling and spent 20 years wintering in Mexico and at their winter home in Yuma. They also traveled for six weeks in Europe and motor-homed over the United States.
Pete was a member of AIDCO to help small businesses get started. He was one of four Astoria businessmen instrumental in financing the conversion of the old Columbia Memorial Hospital to Clatsop Care Center. He was a member of the Elks and a 50-year member of the Gateway Masonic Lodge. He donated the land in Warrenton for the Seaport Lodge. He was also a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Pete was interested in anything to do with the outdoors-hunting, fishing, clamming and operating his tractor, even after he became legally blind at age 86. Few could outlast him in staying out on the river for a day of fishing. He also enjoyed a good meal, a cocktail and especially the company of family and friends. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Pete loved to give special people a nickname and give the women a hug.
Pete was predeceased by a daughter, Susan Leinweber and his brother, Bill McCoy. He is survived by his wife Thelma and three daughters and their families: Sharon and Bill Keist of Battleground, Wash; Shelby and Gary Mogenson of Astoria; Sheila and Keith Ranta of Astoria. Grandchildren: Mike Leinweber of Naselle, Wash; Dan Leinweber of Hammond; Kim Hughes of Springfield, Missouri; Kelly Eldred of Battleground; Kary Doerfler of Seattle;; Jeff Vance of Portland; Janelle Smith Concord, North Carolina; Todd Ranta of Astoria; Doug Ranta of Astoria; 16 great grandchildren; cousins Marian McBride of Astoria and Sue McHale, Joan Swartz-Kelly of California; niece Donna Kerner of Nevada; and special family care giver, Jenifer "Giggle" Brownson. He loved them all.
Memorials may be made to Hospice, Clatsop County Food bank or the charity of one's choice.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 1pm at Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary. Reception will follow the grave side services at the Astoria Elks Lodge.
Peter Edward McCoy, 91, one of Clatsop County's well known gypo logging contractors died of cancer peacefully at home in Warrenton on March 28, 2007. He was at the beach for clam digging and in the garden planting peas up until the last week of his life.
Pete was born to Ethel Smith McCoy and John McCoy in Astoria on May 21, 1915. He attended school at Olney, John Jacob Astor, Cathlamet and Astoria High School. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. at the age of 17. Then he went gold mining on the Rogue River and to California where he worked on the building of the Oakland bridge. In 1936, he returned to Astoria and went to work for Crown Zellerbach as a choker-setter, rigging-slinger and Cat operator.
He married Thelma Gedenberg on January 28, 1936. They recently celebrated 71 years of marriage.
In 1950, Pete established his own logging company working with and for Crown Zellerbach. He was proud to provide his employees with profit-sharing. He fully retired in the 1980's and sold his equipment.
He and Thelma enjoyed traveling and spent 20 years wintering in Mexico and at their winter home in Yuma. They also traveled for six weeks in Europe and motor-homed over the United States.
Pete was a member of AIDCO to help small businesses get started. He was one of four Astoria businessmen instrumental in financing the conversion of the old Columbia Memorial Hospital to Clatsop Care Center. He was a member of the Elks and a 50-year member of the Gateway Masonic Lodge. He donated the land in Warrenton for the Seaport Lodge. He was also a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Pete was interested in anything to do with the outdoors-hunting, fishing, clamming and operating his tractor, even after he became legally blind at age 86. Few could outlast him in staying out on the river for a day of fishing. He also enjoyed a good meal, a cocktail and especially the company of family and friends. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Pete loved to give special people a nickname and give the women a hug.
Pete was predeceased by a daughter, Susan Leinweber and his brother, Bill McCoy. He is survived by his wife Thelma and three daughters and their families: Sharon and Bill Keist of Battleground, Wash; Shelby and Gary Mogenson of Astoria; Sheila and Keith Ranta of Astoria. Grandchildren: Mike Leinweber of Naselle, Wash; Dan Leinweber of Hammond; Kim Hughes of Springfield, Missouri; Kelly Eldred of Battleground; Kary Doerfler of Seattle;; Jeff Vance of Portland; Janelle Smith Concord, North Carolina; Todd Ranta of Astoria; Doug Ranta of Astoria; 16 great grandchildren; cousins Marian McBride of Astoria and Sue McHale, Joan Swartz-Kelly of California; niece Donna Kerner of Nevada; and special family care giver, Jenifer "Giggle" Brownson. He loved them all.
Memorials may be made to Hospice, Clatsop County Food bank or the charity of one's choice.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 1pm at Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary. Reception will follow the grave side services at the Astoria Elks Lodge.
Gypo Logger
Peter Edward McCoy, 91, one of Clatsop County's well known gypo logging contractors died of cancer peacefully at home in Warrenton on March 28, 2007. He was at the beach for clam digging and in the garden planting peas up until the last week of his life.
Pete was born to Ethel Smith McCoy and John McCoy in Astoria on May 21, 1915. He attended school at Olney, John Jacob Astor, Cathlamet and Astoria High School. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. at the age of 17. Then he went gold mining on the Rogue River and to California where he worked on the building of the Oakland bridge. In 1936, he returned to Astoria and went to work for Crown Zellerbach as a choker-setter, rigging-slinger and Cat operator.
He married Thelma Gedenberg on January 28, 1936. They recently celebrated 71 years of marriage.
In 1950, Pete established his own logging company working with and for Crown Zellerbach. He was proud to provide his employees with profit-sharing. He fully retired in the 1980's and sold his equipment.
He and Thelma enjoyed traveling and spent 20 years wintering in Mexico and at their winter home in Yuma. They also traveled for six weeks in Europe and motor-homed over the United States.
Pete was a member of AIDCO to help small businesses get started. He was one of four Astoria businessmen instrumental in financing the conversion of the old Columbia Memorial Hospital to Clatsop Care Center. He was a member of the Elks and a 50-year member of the Gateway Masonic Lodge. He donated the land in Warrenton for the Seaport Lodge. He was also a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Pete was interested in anything to do with the outdoors-hunting, fishing, clamming and operating his tractor, even after he became legally blind at age 86. Few could outlast him in staying out on the river for a day of fishing. He also enjoyed a good meal, a cocktail and especially the company of family and friends. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Pete loved to give special people a nickname and give the women a hug.
Pete was predeceased by a daughter, Susan Leinweber and his brother, Bill McCoy. He is survived by his wife Thelma and three daughters and their families: Sharon and Bill Keist of Battleground, Wash; Shelby and Gary Mogenson of Astoria; Sheila and Keith Ranta of Astoria. Grandchildren: Mike Leinweber of Naselle, Wash; Dan Leinweber of Hammond; Kim Hughes of Springfield, Missouri; Kelly Eldred of Battleground; Kary Doerfler of Seattle;; Jeff Vance of Portland; Janelle Smith Concord, North Carolina; Todd Ranta of Astoria; Doug Ranta of Astoria; 16 great grandchildren; cousins Marian McBride of Astoria and Sue McHale, Joan Swartz-Kelly of California; niece Donna Kerner of Nevada; and special family care giver, Jenifer "Giggle" Brownson. He loved them all.
Memorials may be made to Hospice, Clatsop County Food bank or the charity of one's choice.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 1pm at Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary. Reception will follow the grave side services at the Astoria Elks Lodge.
Peter Edward McCoy, 91, one of Clatsop County's well known gypo logging contractors died of cancer peacefully at home in Warrenton on March 28, 2007. He was at the beach for clam digging and in the garden planting peas up until the last week of his life.
Pete was born to Ethel Smith McCoy and John McCoy in Astoria on May 21, 1915. He attended school at Olney, John Jacob Astor, Cathlamet and Astoria High School. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. at the age of 17. Then he went gold mining on the Rogue River and to California where he worked on the building of the Oakland bridge. In 1936, he returned to Astoria and went to work for Crown Zellerbach as a choker-setter, rigging-slinger and Cat operator.
He married Thelma Gedenberg on January 28, 1936. They recently celebrated 71 years of marriage.
In 1950, Pete established his own logging company working with and for Crown Zellerbach. He was proud to provide his employees with profit-sharing. He fully retired in the 1980's and sold his equipment.
He and Thelma enjoyed traveling and spent 20 years wintering in Mexico and at their winter home in Yuma. They also traveled for six weeks in Europe and motor-homed over the United States.
Pete was a member of AIDCO to help small businesses get started. He was one of four Astoria businessmen instrumental in financing the conversion of the old Columbia Memorial Hospital to Clatsop Care Center. He was a member of the Elks and a 50-year member of the Gateway Masonic Lodge. He donated the land in Warrenton for the Seaport Lodge. He was also a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Pete was interested in anything to do with the outdoors-hunting, fishing, clamming and operating his tractor, even after he became legally blind at age 86. Few could outlast him in staying out on the river for a day of fishing. He also enjoyed a good meal, a cocktail and especially the company of family and friends. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Pete loved to give special people a nickname and give the women a hug.
Pete was predeceased by a daughter, Susan Leinweber and his brother, Bill McCoy. He is survived by his wife Thelma and three daughters and their families: Sharon and Bill Keist of Battleground, Wash; Shelby and Gary Mogenson of Astoria; Sheila and Keith Ranta of Astoria. Grandchildren: Mike Leinweber of Naselle, Wash; Dan Leinweber of Hammond; Kim Hughes of Springfield, Missouri; Kelly Eldred of Battleground; Kary Doerfler of Seattle;; Jeff Vance of Portland; Janelle Smith Concord, North Carolina; Todd Ranta of Astoria; Doug Ranta of Astoria; 16 great grandchildren; cousins Marian McBride of Astoria and Sue McHale, Joan Swartz-Kelly of California; niece Donna Kerner of Nevada; and special family care giver, Jenifer "Giggle" Brownson. He loved them all.
Memorials may be made to Hospice, Clatsop County Food bank or the charity of one's choice.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 1pm at Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary. Reception will follow the grave side services at the Astoria Elks Lodge.
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