| Graduation Year | Class of 1970 |
| Date of Passing | Sep 20, 2024 |
| About | Daughter of Robert and Carrol Merry. The following is from an article published in Jan. 2024: DUBLIN, Ohio — A mother and daughter in Ohio are on a mission: they're traveling around the world to create as many memories as possible, but they are up against a big challenge: time. What You Need To Know Carrie McCoy and her mom LaRaine are traveling around the world to create lasting memories The mother-daughter duo started a bucket list after LaRaine was diagnosed with cancer LaRaine is also wheelchair-bound, so flying is hard for them The two plan trips every couple of weeks Carrie McCoy and her mom LaRaine share a special bond, but they’ve been through a lot together. LaRaine McCoy is paralyzed from the chest down from a car crash 40 years ago. Then, things changed again last February when she was diagnosed with cancer — shortly after her husband died from the disease. "Like once you lose one parent, you realize how quality time is so important,” Carrie said. LaRaine is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but the cancer is progressive. "If we had three years, it would be close to a miracle,” Carrie said. “And now that we know how progressive it is, we have months left to live." The McCoy family is making the best of the time they have left. They started a bucket list, visiting everywhere mom approves. "Every two weeks almost we've been traveling,” Carrie said. "So, we've been to the ocean at Clearwater, Florida. We've been to Austin to see grandkids twice. We really want to see Hamilton again.” While traveling for them is hard, and especially with a wheelchair, the memories they create when they do are worth it, cherishing each moment and remembering life is what you make of it. "Every day, every day is a gift,” LaRaine said, “and I feel great gratitude to be able to live this length of time. Every morning I get up, it's a choice of how I’m going to spend it." |
