Rita McCoy

Rita Colleen Odell McCoy was born in the small town of St. Johns, Arizona, on Oct. 7, 1928, to Marguerite Edith Waite Odell and Clinton Saborn Odell. She joined a family of 3 other children, Selma, Marguerite, and Clinton, and then, 9 years later, another sister, Karyn, joined the family. When she was fairly young, her family decided to move to California, where her father took up construction work and farming. She attended Sylvan Elementary School and San Juan High School in Citrus Heights, California. In high school, she was a member of the choir and the band, where she played the drums. 

Upon graduation, her father decided that it was time for her to pursue training in the nursing field. She was shipped off to Phoenix, Arizona, where she started her training at St. Joseph’s Hospital. One of her fellow classmates had a friend named Bill she wanted Rita to meet. So it was arranged, and off they went. Several months later, they decided to take it to the next step and tied the knot on Feb. 21, 1948. Their first son, Kenneth Wayne, was born 9 months and 6 days later. When she became pregnant with their second child, they decided it was time to buy a house to raise this growing family. So, shortly before their second child, Judith Colleen, was born, they moved into the family home where they lived for about the next 20 years. They also welcomed three more sons into the fold: William Todd, Thurman Mark, and Tracy Odell.

Rita was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, and friend. She had a quiet demeanor, which in no way was any indicator of her many talents. No one could exceed her abilities in sewing, and, in addition, she quite enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and working on all crafty things. She was a wonderful cook, and dinner was always looked forward to at their house. She made everything look so easy. Seldom did she ever just sit around. She was always working on some project or another. She was especially known around the neighborhood for her candy-making skills when she would present all the neighbors with plates of homemade candy at Christmastime. Her specialties were divinity and pecan brittle, both of which she had perfected. She also had a beautiful alto voice and was always a fixture in her church choirs. Even after dementia began to rule her life, she could pick out the alto part in any song that was being sung. She was always first to volunteer to help out wherever needed. She worked at food banks and many other civic volunteer activities.

After she met Bill and got married, she dropped out of nursing school. But when her youngest son entered grade school, she decided to go back and finish what she had started. Off she went to Phoenix College, where she finished her Registered Nurse training. From then on, she was always working in the nursing field in some capacity or another. Much of her time was spent working with newborn babies in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She was a kind, compassionate, loving nurse who was an inspiration to her profession.

When life was going along just fine, fate got in the way, and the whole trajectory of their lives changed. Her husband got laid off from the job where he had worked most of their married life. He could have relocated to San Diego, but instead, he decided to go back to school in pursuit of a degree. He finished his schoolwork and got a degree in Computer Science. After he finished, he was qualified to work for the government and found work as an ammunition inspector for the Army. This necessitated him moving back to Illinois to attend more school. After he had been gone for the first year, Rita decided to move back with him to Illinois while he finished up. She took the two youngest boys, who were then in their teens. After he finished his schooling, his first assignment took him to Tooele, Utah, where he worked at the Army Depot there. They lived there for 5 years until the boys were finished with high school. As part of the job, they had to relocate every 2–5 years. They were now free and easy, and their adventures began big time after that. They lived in Okinawa, Japan; Germany; Panama; Farmington, New Mexico; Tooele (again); and Flagstaff. Wherever they lived, Rita found work as a nurse. During these times, they also became avid bike riders and participated in several rides across many areas. When they were 65 and living in Tooele, Utah, they decided they were going to ride their bikes to Phoenix, which was about a 700-mile ride. Off they went, usually riding 100 miles a day on the back roads. It took them a week, but they came out victorious. She also worked with many of her grandsons and their friends to help them get their bike riding merit badge. They were also proponents of taking long walks every day and participated in many walking events wherever they happened to be stationed.

Unfortunately, her husband was killed in a bicycle accident in 2009. It was just short of their 61st anniversary. She later met a good and kind man, John Smithson, and they were married for a short time before he succumbed to cancer.

Through this all, she was always very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and gladly served wherever she was called. She loved the gospel and the guidance it gave her in her life.

In 2012, she left her home in Flagstaff and moved back to Utah, this time to American Fork. She lived by herself until the beginnings of dementia started to rear its ugly head. In spite of it, she has still maintained her quiet, pleasant dignity, and the workers at the Beehive Home where she later lived referred to her as “their angel.”

Rita was preceded in death by her parents and all her siblings; husbands Bill McCoy and later John Smithson; her son Kenneth and his wife, Andrea; a grandson, Jeffrey; and two great-grandchildren, Hannah and Stone.

She leaves behind 4 of her children: Judy Owens (Charles), Todd (Cheryl), Mark (Susan), and Tracy (Margaret); 24 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way; and one great-great-grandchild.

Thanks to all the loving staff at the Beehive Home in American Fork, Utah, for their love, concern, and care, and to the hospice workers from Valeo for all they’ve done for her, especially Roy Valverde.

She passed away on Sunday, June 1, 2025, and her body will be laid to rest on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at a graveside service at the American Fork Cemetery in American Fork, Utah, at 10:30 AM (24 W 600 N), where a Viewing will be held prior from 9:00 to 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, American Fork 14th Ward, 825 E. 500 N., American Fork, UT. Interment will be in the American Fork Cemetery.