Wilma Marie Templer

December 14, 1926 - May 4, 2021

Wilma Marie (McCoy) Templer, age 94, of Festus, MO, formerly of Albia, passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Crystal Oaks Skilled Care in Festus. Wilma was born on December 14, 1926, to William Caswell and Willie Marie (Northup) McCoy in Empire, CA. She grew up and attended school in Modesto, California, graduating with the Class of 1945. Wilma then attended Modesto Junior College and later William Penn College in Oskaloosa, IA, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. On September 3, 1948, Wilma was united in marriage to Walter Roy Templer in Empire, CA. Wilma and Walter shared 63 years of marriage prior to his passing on August 4, 2012. Wilma taught school in the Albia Community School District for 21 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Albia, the local & state Retired Teachers Association, Albia Women’s Club, and RSVP Group. Wilma enjoyed cooking and gardening. Music was Wilma’s passion and she was a talented musician. She taught piano lessons and played the organ at Monroe County Brethren Church and Pleasant Corners Baptist Church. She also played the keyboard, accordion, and the fiddle with local bands and her musician friends, Dan Walker, Patty Gray, and Cindy Rhodes. Wilma’s other true joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Wilma is survived by 2 daughters, Karen Deimerly of Holly Springs, NC and Sandy (Gary) Wallace of Hillsboro, MO; 9 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren and 1 on the way; 2 sisters, Trudi Padgett of Visalia, CA and Edie (Lee) Musgrove of Dixon, CA; and a brother, Chet McCoy of Fair Oaks, CA. Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; a daughter-in-infancy, Marjorie Templer; a daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Hilleman; her parents, William and Willie McCoy; 3 brothers, Billy, Virgil, and Ray McCoy and a son-in-law, Jack Deimerly. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Wilma’s family present to greet family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at the First Christian Church in Albia, with Pastor Arlene Johnson officiating. Burial will follow services at Pleasant Corners Cemetery near Eddyville. Memorials may be directed to the family for the purchase of a memorial bench at Pleasant Corners Cemetery.