Kimberly Mead

NEW LONDON — Kimberly Jo (Mc Coy) Mead, 55, of New London, formerly of Oak Hills, California, and Clarkfield, died and became an Angel on March 15, 2017. Kim’s wish was to remain at home to the end where she died peacefully while holding hands with her husband, with family, and her beloved dog Mocha by her side, after a five-year long battle with cancer.

Kim was born March 5, 1962, in Montevideo to Duane and Dorothy (Swang) Mc Coy of Clarkfield. She was baptized and confirmed in the Bergen Lutheran Church of rural Granite Falls where she remained a member her entire life. She grew up on the family dairy farm just north of Clarkfield and attended the local elementary and high school, graduating from Clarkfield High School in 1980.

Upon graduation Kim obtained a cosmetology degree from Ridgewater Community College in Willmar and embarked on a career as a hairstylist for more than 30 years. She worked in salons in Litchfield; Bloomington; Hesperia, Calif.; and finally opening her own shop in her home in Oak Hills, Calif.

It was in Litchfield that Kim first met her husband-to-be, Ronald W. Mead. Kim and Ron were married on her childhood farm in Clarkfield on June 30, 1990. Kim and Ron made their home in California, where Ron had a construction business, living first in Fontana, Calif., and later moving to the High Desert community of Oak Hills, Calif., and eventually retiring back in Minnesota.

Kim will always be remembered for her love of music, especially for the piano and organ, which she played for her church, special events and she taught lessons for many years. She also loved crafts and using her creativity, whether it was making 4-H projects as a youngster, sewing, woodworking, gardening or scrapbooking. She was a devoted wife and terrific step-mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, taking each of her grandchildren on a trip to Minnesota the summer they turned 9. Her Christmas cookie decorating parties were one of the highlights of the season for the grandchildren.

Kim was a wonderful friend and could always be counted on to lend a helping hand, a sympathetic ear or an encouraging word. She formed life-long friendships with classmates, roommates, co-workers and clients and her smile could light up a room.

Kim is survived by her husband, Ronald Mead; her step-children, JayDee (Tony) Mascaro and Ronald (Jennifer) Mead, Jr.; 12 grandchildren and two-great grandchildren, all of Apple Valley, Calif.; mother, Dorothy Mc Coy of Clarkfield; brother, Kris (Vitor de Almeida) Mc Coy of San Diego, brothers-in-law: Rick (Carolyn) Mead, Jerry (Rochelle) Mead and Jack Mead; and sisters-in-law, Sandy (Bob) Been and Peggie Rederich.

She was preceded in death by her father, Duane Mc Coy of Clarkfield.