Becky McCoy retiring

By Dean Shipley

Becky McCoy started working at the Madison County Treasurer’s Office in 1976. She is retiring February 28, 2013.

It’s not very often the subject of a story will give the reporter “directions.” But in this case, retiring deputy treasurer, Becky McCoy, did.

“Don’t make it mushy,” she commanded.

Yes, Ma’am.

After all, when it comes to doing the county’s financial business, county residents don’t want mush. They want a person who is personable, comfortable working with figures and reliable. Those were the qualities William “Shag” Stidham was looking for in his next deputy treasurer, when he “recruited” McCoy during our nation’s bicentennial.

She was working for City Loan at the time. In those days loan companies were in a tenuous circumstance. Shag came to her while she was working there and asked her if she was interested in a job. He warned her some competition existed for the position. After consulting with her father, Robert Mabe, she decided to go for it.

She did and was hired as a deputy treasurer.

On April Fool’s Day, she said with a chuckle.

But she was no fool taking the job. She learned every function within the office, the duties shared by the three deputy treasurers. She said as the years rolled by, the relationships that developed behind the iconic “cage” seen as customers enter, became friendly and family-like.

Parting for McCoy, to borrow a line from Shakespeare, is a sweet sorrow.

“It makes it bittersweet,” in her words.

As she steps away, McCoy has plenty to pile on her plate in retirement. Among them are home projects which have been on hold, or be available to help her mother and brother at the family business, Mabe’s.

Both of her sons’ families live close by so she’ll plan to spend more time with her seven grandchildren who range in age from 11 to two.

McCoy’s “official” retirement date was Dec. 31, 2012, but she stayed on an extra two months to fill in while a fellow deputy took pregnancy leave.

As of Feb. 28, however, the treasurer’s office will have to function without the “real” McCoy.