Obituary of Frank Wilfred McCoy

Frank Wilfred McCoy, 71, left us after a battle with pancreatic cancer on February 5th, 2019, surrounded by family.

Visitation: 2 pm – 3 pm Sunday, Martin Thompson & Son Funeral Home, 6009 Wedgwood Dr., Ft. Worth.

Service: 3 pm Sunday, Martin Thompson & Son Funeral Home, 6009 Wedgwood Dr., Ft. Worth.

Born on April 7th, 1947 in Utulei, American Samoa to Marie Henrietta Wulf, he is survived by his loving wife, Edith Iliganoa; children, Judith Lynn McCoy, Jessica McCoy-Lafaele, Janice Laumata McCoy-Pele, Frank Wilfred Jr., and Douglas Aloysious; siblings, Grace Laumata Allen, Mary Horne, Ernest Bernard; and 19 grandchildren.

Frank attended Marist Brothers Elementary in Atu’u, American Samoa, and Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, CA. He returned home to the islands in 1970 to work for Van Camp Seafoods where he met Edith. They were married on June 16, 1970, and set off once more for California. Frank woked several years with Thums Oil Company on oil rigs, in the oil fields, and the Catalina Islands. He also owned a lawnmower repair shop, McCoy’s Lawnmower Shop on Norwalk Boulevard in Hawaiian Gardens.

In 1977, Frank, Edith, and family moved back to American Samoa. After a stint with Southwest Marine Railways and a few years as a commercial fisherman, Frank started up Harbor Refuse & Environmental Services, Inc. (HRES Inc.) in 1985 and provided hazardous waste response and clean-up and debris removal from the Pago Pago Harbor. HRES Inc. was a Coast Guard BOA contractor and the only Mobile Waste Oil Reception Facility for many years. He was also deputized as an officer by the Department of Public Safety – Marine Patrol Division.

In 2001, Frank fulfilled his lifelong love of fishing and started two additional companies: Northwest Fisheries and McCoy’s Icehouse. Northwest Fisheries consisted of two longline fishing vessels, F/V Northwest and F/V Ali B, and one bottomfishing/trolling vessel, F/V Leilani. He captained the voyages to bring the F/V Northwest and F/V Ali B from Washington and Hawaii to American Samoa, respectively. McCoy’s Icehouse provided retail and commercial ice to local stores and fisheries. 

Frank was an influential leader and contributor to the local fishery management programs, including the Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources training programs as well as the Sea Grant program. He also served the larger Pacific fishery community through his years of service with the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council. He was an active member from 1978 to 2007, and held several posts - most notably as Chairman in 2006, and Council Vice-Chair in 2004 and 2005. He also served as a member of the Council’s Advisory Panel as Vice-Chair and Pelagic Advisory Panel Chair in 2008. 

In 2013, Frank and Edith moved to Gorman, TX, and built a cabin out in the country. He relished living ‘off the grid’, and built the cabin to be self-sustaining with its own power and water systems. His pond was his pride and joy, and he spent many hours during the dry season dredging it and preparing it to be stocked.

Frank was a man of the highest character, integrity, and spirit, and he was living proof of the indomitable spirit of man. He brought his dreams to life, time and time again. He was truly a force of nature in his own right, and he touched the lives of countless people with his love, laughter, and light. 

His memory lives on and burns brightly in each and every one of us whose life he impacted. 

Rest in peace and love Dad, you are always in our hearts!