Hi this post concerns the 6th and final season of The Real Mc Coys in which Luke is a widower.Was it ever mentioned in any eps.as to how Kate died?I remember one of the later eps.that season showed Grandpa telling Luke about him being a widower for a year and a half.Any info on this would be appreciated.Thanks in advance.

I remember that Kate was written out of the show because Kathy Nolan wanted out of the show after 5 seasons. I think she would have stayed if more money was offered, but it didn't happen. So the producers made Luke a widower when the show returned for it's sixth and final season for 1962-63.

On the show itself, I don't recall any explanation for how Kate passed away. :confused:
I know they had Hassie moving out and going away to college for the reason for her last season absence, and no explanation of Little Luke's disappeance at all!! Without Kate, Hassie and Little Luke, I think it hurt the show considerably in plot and ratings.

I remember the first show of the last season. Hassie was leaving for college and was taking something, food I believe, to Little Luke at a military base, so he joined the service. No menion of Kate or how she died, but Luke and Grandpa making casual remarks about him being a widow.

Now here's the odd part. In the 6th to the last episode of the 6th season, long after it's been noted that Luke is a widower, an episode called "The Auction" aired. The odd thing about this episode is that as Luke and Pepino are walking along the street, Luke mentions about having enough money left over to buy Kate a present. I actually rewound the tape to make sure of what he said. I'm guessing that this was done by a new writer or perhaps it was a script that they hadn't gotten around to using when Kathy Nolan was still with the show and nobody noticed the error.

That IS interesting, I'll have catch that when the rest of the seasons come out. Thanks for the info!

I was surprised that they didn't bring in a few girlfriends for Luke. Or they could have simply done a DANNY Thomas. Bring in a new wife. Might done ok. I do remember Butch Patrick with a mother was brought aboard.