Laura Lavina McCoy (Laura Lavina McCoy was named for her Aunt, Laura Lavina Nye Patterson, Harriet Sarah Nye McCoy Marsh's sister) was born on 20 Jan 1841 to George William McCoy & Harriet Sarah Nye in Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa where her father was Sheriff. In 1852 George came home from the California gold fields and found out Harriet had a son by his friend Judge Samuel Bissell. After being aquitted of a fatal fight with his father-in-law George took his children to live with his sister, Lucinda Fisher, her husband Daniel Fisher, & their 7 children in Cass County, Michigan before heading back to California. Daniel Fisher was the surety at the marriage of Laura Lavina McCoy [she was only 16] to James G. Willard [he was 29] in 1857 in Cass County, Michigan. Her Aunt Lucinda & James's father Samuel Willard were witnesses. Laura & James Willard had 6 daughters. When George McCoy's will was probated in Contra Costa County, California, Laura Lavina Willard & James G Willard of Lee, Allegan County, Michigan signed over power of attorney to her brother, Clarence McCoy on 10 Jun 1885 to handle their portion of the estate in documents notarized & sent to be filed in the District Probate Court [all the children living outside the state of California sent them so it is known where everyone was living at that time]. James died in Cass County, Michigan on 17 Jan 1906.James G. Willard is buried in Barron Lake Cemetery in Niles, Cass County, Michigan. Laura moved in with her widowed daughter Minny V. Willard Peck in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan until her death in 1915. She is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan.

Note: Laura Lavina McCoy did not return to Iowa as only her brothers John Floyd McCoy & James Knox Polk McCoy did after their mother Harriet Sarah Nye McCoy married Warner Marsh.