Lucy Covi McGartland

Lucy Covi McGartland, 96, of Fulton, was called to her Heavenly Home on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. She was born in the small community of Livingston, Illinois on March 25, 1922, the daughter of the late Joseph Covi and the late Cecilia (Menghini) Covi. Upon graduating from high school, she moved to St. Louis, Missouri to attend secretarial school. She worked 12 years as a secretary for various companies in St. Louis. During this time, she lived at Queen's Daughters, a residence for single, professional women where she made several lasting friendships. Later her two sisters joined her there. Lucy was a skillful ballroom dance instructor and loved to jitterbug on the weekends. She and her friends would ride the bus to the USO center during WWII and dance with the servicemen. After the war, she attended dance clubs. It was at a club that her graceful moves caught the eye of a young Irish lad, Jack McGartland. They were wed on December 2, 1950. Lucy became a full-time wife, mother, and homemaker who continuously impressed her family with her resourcefulness, ingenuity, and creativity with cooking, sewing, budgeting, and home repairs. She re-purposed items long before "recycle" became a household word. Lucy helped with her daughters' Girl Scouts activities and even saved the troop by killing a snake with a shovel on a campout. Her first language was Italian so she was adamant about her children using proper English grammar. Her duct-taped bound dictionary was always close at hand and her ready response to almost any question was, "Look it up!" At age 70, she began her semi-professional fishing career by assisting and accompanying her husband and son on their many fishing excursions. Lucy was devoted to both her immediate and extended families. She worked on genealogy and even went to Italy twice to visit relatives. At age 85, she and Jack moved to Fulton, Mo. to be closer to family. A few years later, Lucy developed health issues which led to decreasing independence. She bore the need for increased assistance with graciousness, acceptance, humor, and appreciation. On Jack's birthday, March 6th, Lucy joined him in their heavenly home. Those remaining to cherish her memory include daughters, Deborah Gross (Kenneth) of Fulton, Mary Lu Hogan (Larry) of Wildwood, and Jacquelyn Horn of Mehlville; son, Kevin McGartland (Patricia) of Mexico; brother, Dario Covi (Madeline) of Louisville, Ky.; grandchildren, Kimberly Pierce, Kristen Gross, Kelly Gross, Sean Hogan, Kara Hogan, Jacob Horn, Nicholas Horn, Hannah Horn, Michelle Hoefener, Paul Hoefener, and Keith Bussler; and great-grandchildren, Jayden, Claire, and Isla. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and sisters, Erma Reis and Frieda Augustine. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Fulton. Friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Inurnment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations are suggested to Meals on Wheels, St. Peter Parish, or Compassus Hospice & Palliative Care, c/o Maupin Funeral Home, 301 Douglas Boulevard, Fulton, MO 65251. Condolences may be left for the family at www.maupinfuneralhome.com.