Last Saturday night, Brandon's Grandpa was in a very serious accident while out riding his bike. He often rode his bike to run his errands and on this particular day he was out delivering lottery numbers to all of his buddies that he does a pool with.He was found at the bottom of a hill with no pulse, they revived him and then he was in a coma and on a ventilator until he passed away on Tuesday February 3rd. They think he got going too fast and hit some gravel at the bottom of the hill and lost control of his bike. He will be missed by his family and many loved ones. I've attached the Obituary for my own records.
Billy Homer McCoy, 81, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, at Flagstaff Medical Center.
Mr. McCoy was born in Stith, Texas, to Willie Ruth Ellington and Thermon Emmett McCoy. He grew up in Texas and Arizona where he attended Isaac Junior High and North Senior High School. There, he participated in football and excelled at academics. He left school to join the U.S. Navy when he was 15 years old. After service a short stint, he was discharge from the Navy. He later served time in the U.S. Marines during World War II. He was injured while serving in Okinawa and was returned to civilian life after his honorable discharge. Soon after, he met Rita Colleen Odell in Phoenix, and they were married Feb. 22, 1948. They spent the last 61 years together.
Mr. McCoy worked for Seiberling Rubber Company in Phoenix for 20 years. He then changed occupations and became an ammunition inspector for the army as a civilian employee. In that capacity, he and Mrs. McCoy were able to live in Okinawa, Panama, Germany, Utah and Arizona. Mr. McCoy also served a year in Korea. They enjoyed their time in these countries, getting to know the people and learning about the cultures. They later retired to Flagstaff.
Mr. McCoy was an avid card player and especially enjoyed playing bridge with his friends at the Senior Center. He loved playing the lottery and along with his buddies shared a $250,000 prize. He was an extremely generous man and was always helping out one person or another in whatever they needed. He also loved solving crossword puzzles and spent every morning completing one before he went out to complete his daily tasks. He loved his country and his family.
He was very active until the end. He met his demise from complications of a bicycle accident on Jan. 31, 2009. He went down doing what he loved to do. He could often be seen riding his bike around town running his many errands. He also loved to go on early morning walks.
In addition to his wife, Mr. McCoy is survived by five children -- Kenneth Wayne (Andrea) McCoy of Phoenix, Judith Colleen (Charles) Owens of American Fork, Utah, William Todd (Cheryl) McCoy of Gilbert, Thurman Mark (Susan) McCoy of Sandy, Utah, and Tracy Odell (Margaret) McCoy of Farmington, Utah; 24 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Today Cade, Jace and I got to ride a Valley Metro Bus. The bus came to their preschool and each class got to ride the bus. Lucky me....two kids....I got to ride twice. :)
