Rose Marie McCoy

CHAMPAIGN- Rose Marie McCoy, 92, of Champaign, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at Carle Hospital in Urbana. Rose was born on April 19, 1922 in Oneida, AR, the daughter of Levi and Celetia Brazil Hinton. She later married James McCoy, and he preceded her in death. Surviving to carry on Rose’s legacy are many nieces and nephews. Rose was a distinguished and well-known song-writer. She was influential and prolific during the 1950s and 1960s. Her songs, co-written with others, were successfully recorded by Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole, Big Maybelle, and many others. Over the years, Rose wrote many jazz, pop, rock n’ roll, country, and gospel songs with over 800 of the songs she published being recorded by numerous other artists. Rose had a life well-lived, and she will be missed by those who had the opportunity to work with her. But most of all, she will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, other family members, and close friends. A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 from 9:30am to 10:30am with a celebration of her life following at 10:30am, at Sunset Funeral Homes, Champaign-Urbana Chapel, 710 N. Neil Street, Champaign. Burial will be in Lincoln Memorial Gardens in Urbana. Please join Rose’s family in sharing videos, photos, and memories of her at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

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