Deceased Watsonville Dance Studio Owner Remembered

The community is coming together to support the family of a Watsonville dance studio owner who died suddenly earlier this month.

Carrie Dianda McCoid, 37, died unexpectedly Oct. 3 following a three-day illness. She was the owner of Steps Dance Studio in Watsonville, a new mother and a recent widow.

• A candlelight vigil will be held on Sunday, October 14th, at 7 p.m. at Rio del Mar State Beach, at the end of Rio del Mar Boulevard in Aptos. Please bring a candle and a flower.
• A benefit long-planned for the McCoid family of Aromas will take place Saturday at Delaveaga Golf Course in Santa Cruz in conjunction with the annual Hot Rods on the Beach car show in Santa Cruz.
• Her memorial service will be Sunday, October 28th at 5:30pm at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos.

McCoid helped organize the Hot Rods show for 14 years. The event began as a fundraiser to rebuild a historic Santa Cruz police cruiser and now benefits the Industrial Arts Scholarship Fund, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

What caused Carrie McCoid' death was still being probed this week, according to sheriff's deputy April Skalland. An autopsy was performed, but the Coroner's Office was waiting for additional test results.

She leaves behind her 4-month-old-daughter, Maryella, she was stepmother to Jakob, 16, according to the Register-Pajaronian.

Her husband, Josh McCoid, 35, died when his car ran off Highway 1 in Aptos and hit a tree in March.

In August, McCoid came before the city for approval in moving her studio from Aviation Way to a larger facility on Anna Street. She had been working at Steps since 2008 and purchased the studio in 2010.

Since her death, people posted on the Steps Facebook page that the studio has felt full of heartache and love.

"We all feel your smile, Carrie. Watch over us as we continue on," studio staff posted on Facebook this week.