Leslie Earl McCoy

Leslie Earl McCoy, 97, passed away on May 31, 2026. Born in Billings, Montana, on October 16, 1928, Leslie’s long life was marked by steady devotion to family, diligent work, and enduring faith. He was a beloved presence to those who knew him, and his influence was felt in both quiet example and purposeful service.

Leslie wore many hats throughout his life, meeting each season with the same determination to do things well. He began as a ranch hand, working on the ranch and running cattle—work that reflected the kind of grit and follow-through he would carry into every role that followed. He later served his country in the Army as a radioman, clerk, and typewriter repairman, bringing reliability and care to the tasks entrusted to him. After his military service, he attended Montana State University and began a career in the aerospace industry as an electrical engineer.

His professional life also included a meaningful calling as an educator. Leslie taught at NAU, Phoenix College, and Glendale Community College, where he helped develop the Electronics Department and served as department chairman off and on for many years. Those who learned from him benefited not only from his knowledge, but from the standards he lived by—an insistence on doing the job right the first time, and earning rest through honest effort.

During summer breaks, Leslie used sabbaticals to travel to different states to ply his trade. One especially memorable trip took him to Houston, Texas, where he worked on the Apollo Space Program. This experience reflected both the reach of his skills and the steady competence with which he applied them.

For 71 years, Leslie was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His faith was not merely a belief he held, but a foundation he lived upon. He believed in a life beyond this world and taught his children the same, offering them a perspective shaped by hope, conviction, and a reverent sense of what matters most.

Leslie was preceded in death by his wife, Zina Robertson McCoy, and his son, Milton McCoy. In 2001, he married Emilie, and together they spent many happy years, including serving two missions in Martins Cove, Wyoming. He is survived by his wife, Emily Marie Scarling Rasmussen Held McCoy; his children, Marilyn L. Johnson, Marjorie McCoy Bertram, Leslie M. McCoy, Weslie M. McCoy, and Melodie A. Lokey; 25 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two very close family members, Harvey Miskimen and Jeff Lee.

Leslie's wife, Emilie, also has 9 surviving children, 25 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

Leslie’s legacy is one of faithful living and hard-won wisdom—of showing up, doing the work well, and teaching others by example. In the lives he shaped and the family he loved, his steady influence will remain.