CELIA "CICI" MCCOY

The heavens welcomed a literal saint on March 21, 2025, when Celia “CiCi” McCoy peacefully passed away at the age of 81. Though she left this world, her light, love, and legendary capacity for grace will forever remain.

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Born in New York City on May 10, 1943, Josephine Victoria Cecilia Catherine Tamraz, to Francis “Frank” Tamraz and Marie Ostop. In 1946, after her parents divorce, she was adopted by her Assyrian great aunt and uncle Joel and Audrey Tamraz, who raised her and her brother Joel on their grape vineyard and farm in Ceres, California.

 

As a girl she was an accomplished athlete playing field hockey and tennis on her high school teams. She had a lifelong love of singing and earned a coveted solo in her local Christmas pageant. She spent her early adult life in Los Angeles, California in the era of the 60s. After having her first 3 children, she decided to make the adventurous move to Oregon in 1972.

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CiCi lived a life as colorful and vibrant as her spirit. Her careers were as eclectic as they were fascinating. She had a lifelong career as a server for over 50 years making strong connections with customers and co-workers alike. As a young mother she worked in a nut factory sorting nuts, was once a go-go dancer for Tina Turner, a talent agent for kids and teens and an avid farmer. She was a 4-H leader, one of the pioneers of the Le Leche League and natural birth, a pageant coach, and a mentor to countless young women and girls throughout their lives.

 

She had many passions, including dancing all night, throwing legendary parties, collecting records, listening to Motown and Stevie Wonder, and collecting vintage clothes and hats. As well as a deep love for theater, cooking, baking and all kinds of crafting. 

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But her most meaningful and cherished role was Mother. Momma CiCi gave birth to 8 children, adopted 2 more, was grandmother and great grandmother to more than 30 and supported so many others. She created a family overflowing with love, laughter, and a lot of memorable chaos.

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CiCi found an enduring love for the last 25 years of her life with her devoted husband, Willie June McCoy, with whom she built a home full of warmth, strength, and laughter. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest pride.

CiCi spent her life as a beacon of kindness and unwavering belief in the goodness of people. She was the person who saw the best in everyone, forgave easily (even when you probably didn’t deserve it), and loved deeply without conditions. She was tough as nails, fiercely protective and had a famous sassy attitude that made her both the life of the party and someone you would not want to mess with. If you were lucky enough to be part of her orbit, you knew what it felt like to be truly cherished.

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CiCi had a knack for savoring life’s simple pleasures. She never turned down a lemon meringue pie, always had a hot cup of coffee or joint in hand, and believed there were few things as restorative as a good hot spring soak. She was her grandchildren’s biggest fan, beaming with pride at their plays, art shows, games, and every achievement. You could always count on her to be cheering loudest in the crowd. CiCi’s laughter would always fill the room, anyone who knew her knew that amazing and infectious cackle and her incredible humor and joy. 

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Her legacy is one of love, pure, selfless, and unshakable. To know CiCi was to be loved fiercely, forgiven freely, and encouraged endlessly. She made the world brighter, and though we’ll miss her immensely, we’ll carry her light in our hearts.

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She is survived by her brother, Joel Tamraz, her husband Willie June McCoy and her children,grandchildren and great-grandchildren:

• Scott Luper, wife Christie, and children: Dylan, Audrey, Emery, Katie, and Patrick.

• Robin Spear, husband Steve, and their children: Stephanie, Sarah, Ben, and Lindsay.

• Charles Nelson, wife Verla, and their children: Cooper, Nyyah, Kaytlynn and Dezirae.

• Jason Oefelein, wife Brooke, and sons: Dayton and Kaleb.

• Nikesha Breeze and her children: Makaiah and Samka.

• Celeste Horne and her children: Alex, Manuel, Kymberleigh, and Michael.

• Steven Hunter, wife Kimberly, and their daughter: Grace.

• Aryanna Wagner, husband Lee, and their children: Donovan, Camryn, Atlee, and Everett

• Stepson Adrien Hunter, wife Jordan, and their daughter: Kelsey.

• Stepson Jamonte McCoy

• She was also beloved by her great-grandchildren: Alex, Lilly, Orion, Mateo, and Zayne.

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She was preceded in death by her loving parents and infant daughter Cianna Autumn.

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A celebration of CiCi’s remarkable life will be held May 10th 2025, where we will share stories, laughter, and photos in honor of her life. If you have stories or pictures of her that you would like to share for her memorial you can post them here.

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In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you do something CiCi would have done: extend kindness to a stranger, forgive freely, and love with your whole heart. You can also make donations to her surviving husband Willie June, as he is suddenly adjusting to life without his wife. Donations can be made to his Zelle account: Willie Mccoy.

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