James McCoy

1930 - 2016

On Wednesday, June 22, 2016, James "Jim" Victor McCoy, 85 of Towson, MD, passed away due to complications from a short-term illness. He was born in Vancouver, WA, on September 26, 1930, to Victor and Thelma Ayres McCoy. In addition to Jim, the McCoy family included his cherished older brother, Eugene McCoy and his beloved younger sister, Patricia McCoy Donnelly. For the first part of his life, Jim grew up on his parent's farm in Pioneer, WA, where he developed an appreciation for the natural world that stayed with him throughout his life. In his early teens his family moved to the Washington coastal town of Seaview. He attended Ilwaco High School. Jim was awarded a physics degree from Washington State University (WSU). He and his brother, Gene would make the trips to and from Seaview to Pullman in Gene's Model A. During the summers he oystered on Willapa Bay with his life-long friend Dobby Wiegardt and also worked as a logger. After his graduation from Washington State, Jim enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Washington DC. In Washington, he met "¿a beautiful young lady¿" Jacqueline "Jackie" Moler who later became Jim's beloved wife and the "chief engineer" of his home life. Jim and Jackie were married on October 15, 1955, in Brunswick, MD. Jim worked at Westinghouse for 35+ years as a senior engineer developing military plane radar. He stayed active by participating on the Jacksonville Planning Board, taking care of his land, painting, and raising his children. When God thought about the type of soul that should walk this earth, that soul was personified in Jim McCoy. Jim was a good, kind, funny, smart, engaging man loved by so many. He was a great father, husband, son, brother, father-in-law, grandfather, and friend. Every room that Jim walked into welcomed his bright, engaging, happy spirit. He was interested in many things including his beloved Orioles, WSU Cougars, painting, music, politics, and nature. Our heart breaks that he is gone for now but we are so grateful to have had him in our lives and know we will see his sunny soul one day soon. Jim is predeceased by his wife, Jackie; and son, Craig. He is survived by his daughter, Sioban (Kimberly Grose); daughter-in-law, Jean McCoy; grandsons, Brian and Kevin McCoy; brother, Gene McCoy (Arnetta Swan); sister, Patricia Donnelly (Buck); and nieces, nephews, numerous cousins, and friends. Celebrations of Jim's life will be held in the future in Maryland and in Washington State.