Barbara Jean (nee MacKay) Coy

She passed away at Nanaimo, BC on January 26, 2025, after a short battle with lung disease. She was predeceased by her husband Grant Coy and her parents Edwin and Mary MacKay. Barbara is survived by her three children Debbi, Darren (Sherry) and Dana, five grandchildren Nicole (National), Eryn (Nash), Ty, Cody, and Dillon, four great grandchildren Reinen, Ropen, Ryden and Rhett, sister Sheila (Neville) and brother Ed (Judy), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Barbara was born in Victoria, BC and moved to Calgary, AB as a young girl but her heart was always in Victoria. Barbara and Grant were married in Calgary in 1965, and raised their children on an acreage in High River, AB. She loved our annual family vacations to Vancouver Island and we all fondly remember the days spent on the beach at Parksville Bay. Barbara was involved in her children’s sports, hockey, figure skating and horse activities throughout the years and was the face behind the front desk at Grant’s Small Engines.

Barbara and Grant moved to Nanaimo BC in 1992. She was proudly involved with the Nanaimo Arts Council, the Nanaimo Tozan Kiln (1995), Nanaimo Rhododendron Society, the Nanaimo Bridge Club, Literacy Nanaimo, and the Newcomers Club where she met lifelong friends Diane Wade and Phoebe Hamilton. Playing bridge, doing floral design, gardening and rhododendrons were passions of hers. She took great pleasure in video chatting with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, who she loved dearly and was so proud of.

The family would like to thank the caring and loving staff at the Palliative Care Unit at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital who took pleasure in her humour and cheekiness during her stay. A Celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at a later date.