Loy Frank Coxsey, “Loydad”, passed away peacefully on Dec 10th, 2025 at 68 years old. Born on November 13, 1957 to his Father Donnie and Mother Darline (Curbow) Coxsey at Skaggs Hospital in Branson, Mo. Loy lived a life marked by dedication, strength, and quiet wisdom. Loy was the oldest of five children, the first grandchild on both sides of the family, and the only boy (his younger brother Alvin died as an infant). 

     He had recently been on a four month visit to his home of Alpena, Ar. seeing his fiancee Kathy, sister Trilla, and visiting children in Missouri and New York, as well as his family & friends throughout the midwest. Kathy and others were settling into their time together again with Loy knowing he may leave from time to time but he always comes back and stays in daily contact. This time he had said he was ready to move back home.

     Galveston had become a large part of his life over the last few decades and provided a new beginning for him and a means of support for those he loved states away. Loy was a brother and a leader amongst the members of the ILA Maritime Association as a Longshoreman in the Local 20 and 1504 Halls. His work ethic and integrity earned him the admiration of many throughout his career.

     Married July 19, 1984, in Alva, Ok., Irma brought two young boys into the relationship whom Loy cared for right away. He was a wise and steady step-father who taught his sons, Ricky & Jarrod Smiley, how to grow up to be men. Over the course of the 31 years together, and 29 year marriage the Coxsey’s had two daughters who changed their lives forever, Victoria & Vallie. Victoria was gifted her dads twiddling thumbs, true north heart, and entrepreneurial spirit, while Vallie took on her dads scifi loving, short but deep convos, & free spirit…. and ran with it, “Ride on Ghost Rider." The children experienced many different facets of their parents over the years as we all do…  but Loy always had a hand in his children’s lives. The Coxsey family resided as one in the Ozarks and reveled in the beauty of its rolling hills and valleys where Loy worked as a diesel big rig mechanic on the same ground of his grandparents old standard gas station. Loy and Irma both went their separate ways in 2008. His grandbabies were a highlight of his recent years as he watched them grow up, listened to cat stories, celebrated one playing basketball, and would give a “recharge” by touching the tip of his finger to theirs.

     Leisurely he would sit in his recliner reading his Louis Lamar or Scifi novels while gazing out his big picture window. His loyal companion, his cat "Nerd," was often seen riding alongside him in his truck—a testament to the unique connections he formed throughout his life and his proud misfit collections.

     Loy had a deep love for hot rods and motorcycles and spent countless hours fixing cars with friends. His passion for mechanics was matched only by his generosity—he was always ready to lend a hand to those in need. He chose the dirty jobs and even worked chasing the oil rigs. He was brave and usually one of the only willing to climb to the top to do the welding, but it got the most money. Loy and some of his buddies would chase the rigg town to town as roommates and sometimes carpool back in the middle of the night after their shifts with nothing but the light of the moon to guide them “because it was easier to see that way, with the headlights off”.

     Loy had graduated with honors from Alpena High School in 1976- the year of the nation’s bi-centennial. Showing up rather on the court playing for the Alpena basketball team or in a church pew next to his mother in Alpena, he learned to love others, lead, and be a part of a community. He attended college at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Stories of the Old Curbow Standard Station are many but he remembered how he would get candy slid to them by their grandpa Charlie when grannie Ethel wasn't looking. He spent time at the farm doing chores with his dad Donnie or helping Macgyver fix something but we know those times were direct results of his young mischief at the station. He would take vehicles apart and leave them scattered on the ground with no intention of putting them back together. He was the big brother to all, including his cousins, and thankful when a few boy cousins finally joined the family. Loy’s sisters remember teasing or aggravating him and in turn he would put them in a “dog pile” and tickle them and couldn’t stop giggling. While other times they took on a task from mom to go hunt squirrels for dinner. 

     Though Loy was sometimes cryptic or speaking in parables you had to decipher, when he did speak, his few words carried weight and meaning. Those who knew Loy will remember him as a hardworking man of principle who led with quiet strength and unwavering generosity. May his memory bring comfort to all who were fortunate enough to know him.

     All inquiries regarding Loy Coxsey's assets, property, and final wishes should be directed to next of kin Victoria and Vallie at TheCoxseyFamily@gmail.com.

     Loy was preceded in death by his parents Donnie Coxsey & Darline (Curbow) Coxsey, his brother Alvin Edward Curbow.; His Beloved Cousin, Hank Wood, Uncle Elmer Curbow, & Aunt Anna Mae (Curbow) Cornelison as well as other family members he cherished.

     He is survived by his fiancee; Kathy Wright of Alpena & her family. Former wife; Irma Coxsey Johnson recently remarried of Omaha, Ar., and their two daughters, Vallie Coxsey, of New York, and Victoria Coxsey of Springfield, Mo.; and Two sons, Jarrod Smiley and wife Liliana of Branson, Mo., Ricky Smiley of Springfield, Mo.; four grandchildren, Sydney (Smiley) Smith, Issabella Smiley, Annabell Strong, & Edelweiss Bloemker; a soon to be great grandchild; three sisters Trilla Coxsey, of Alpena, Anita Sawyer and husband, Tim, of Georgia, and Leta Mulligan and husband, Pat, of North Little Rock; great aunt & uncles,; Doris (Curbow) Wood and husband Henry, of Galena, Mo., and J.R. Cornelison, of Highlandville, Mo.; and many other wonderful nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.