Dr. Megan Rene McIntosh PhD

Megan Rene McIntosh, loving wife, mother, educator, adventurer and friend to many, died August 21, 2024 at Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, CA surrounded in love by family. She suffered a brief but severe illness and was taken far too soon. 

She was born to Bradly and Phyllis Dunham on January 24, 1981 in Coffeyville, Kansas. She grew up in Coffeyville and attended Garfield Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High School (where she met the love of her life, but didn’t yet know it) and Field Kindley High School, graduating in 1999. During high school she was a Sonic carhop and could roller skate like nobody’s business. Small but mighty, she also excelled at sports, including the volleyball and softball teams. Even as a city kid, she also enjoyed being a member of the FFA and participated in various contests such as meats and entomology judging. It was in these classes where she also grew to know her future husband, Joshua McIntosh. 

Although they didn’t start dating until after graduation, Megan and Josh were meant for each other. Her take charge, confident attitude matched his quiet demeanor and they both had big dreams for their lives. Josh soon joined the Army, Third Infantry Division, and Megan supported him in every way. They were married on June 16, 2001 at the Lewark Church of God in Coffeyville, Kansas and began a life full of experiences and achievements together. First came Zaylin, born in Coffeyville but while the family was stationed at Fort Benning, GA and the apple of his parents’ eye. During this time Megan was also a member of the National Guard, serving her country as a paralegal clerk. The family moved next to Fort Knox, KY and then to Schofield Barracks, HI. Many years of prayers were answered when Jaxtin and Acetin were born during their time in Hawaii. The family moved next to Fort Irwin, CA then to Vilsek, Germany to be stationed at the United States Army Garrison Bavaria. Their final posting was back to Fort Irwin in California. As a military wife and mother, Megan couldn’t have done better. She kept the family together over deployments to Kosovo, Iraq three times and Afghanistan. She supported Josh emotionally over calls and chats and sent more care packages than you could count. All the while raising three boys and maintaining a warm, loving home. Her boys were her pride and joy. She wouldn’t miss a game, school event or activity no matter how much was on her plate. She loved them fiercely and without limits. 

Through the moves, deployments and family obligations, Megan somehow managed to graduate, with honors, with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education (Troy University), two Master’s of Arts degrees in Curriculum and Instruction (Western Kentucky University) and Educational Leadership (Brandman University), and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Special Education (Northcentral University). She was determined to better herself and her family and used her intellect and determination to do so. She loved teaching and taught in five different states and in Germany. Her positions included: Fifth Grade, Middle School Math, Elementary Special Education, Reading Intervention, and Middle School Language Arts and History. When the family returned to California, she assumed the Principal position at Fort Irwin Middle School in 2018 where she worked until her passing. She was passionate about educating military children and tailoring their instruction to the kids’ unique circumstances. She also mentored numerous educators along the way, bringing up the next generation of leaders for the community at Fort Irwin. The students, teachers, staff and administrators throughout the Silver Valley Unified School District were like her second family. 

Megan’s big heart also loved her family’s pets – Bodhi and Ace their Golden Doodles and Buster their miniature dachshund. She wasn’t afraid of anything, once saving Buster from a bobcat attack while out on a walk at Fort Irwin. She had an adventurous spirit and a love to experience new things. She had travelled all over the country. When the boys were little you could find them at Disneyland or the beach. New York City, Washington, DC and Las Vegas were some of her favorite trips. While in Europe they visited the Czech Republic, Scotland, England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Malta and took a cruise through the Mediterranean Sea. Not too shabby of a travel resume for a blue collar kid from a small town in Kansas. She also loved sports, to include any team her boys were playing on and, much to the chagrin of her Midwest family and friends, the Yankees. From her teenage years to today, she was up on all the latest music and enjoyed going to concerts and live events. Those middle schoolers had nothing on her as far as coolness goes. She had a quick wit and wasn’t afraid to tell you her opinion. You knew exactly where you stood with her and that was usually under her protective watch. A mama bear to the fullest extent. 

When you see pink, smile and keep Megan forever in your heart.

Megan is survived by her husband Joshua of Barstow, California; sons Zaylin, Jaxtin and Acestin McIntosh also of the home; her mother Phyllis Dunham of Coffeyville, Kansas; her brother Chad (Julie) Dunham of Independence, Kansas and their children; her in-laws Tim and Kim McIntosh of Dearing, Kansas and Jason (Nicole) McIntosh of Coffeyville, Kansas and their children; and friends to numerous to name. She is preceded in death by her father, Bradly Dunham, and sister Stephanie Privitt. 

Services will be held Friday, August 30, 2024 at Grace Fellowship Church, 2455 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, Kansas at 10:30am. A graveside service will also be held at the Havana Cemetery, located at 650 Cemetery Ave, Havana, KS 67347, immediately following the funeral service. The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 29, 2024 from 6-8pm at Ford-Wulf-Bruns, 2405 Woodland Ave. in Coffeyville. A memorial service for her California community will be announced soon. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to fund an account for her children’s education and expenses and may be made payable to McIntosh Family Fund and may be left in care of the chapel or may be sent to Community National Bank and Trust, 901 W 11th St, Coffeyville, KS 67337. Donations are also being accepted through a GoFundMe Link; https://www.gofundme.com/f/ensure-a-bright-future-for-megans-boys?lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp9c&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook. To leave an online message of condolence, share a memory or view services visit Megan’s obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com