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Obituary: Robert Dale McCoy

Robert McCoy with his daughters, Joy and Cynthia.
Courtesy Photo |

Robert Dale McCoy, formerly of Hot Sulphur Springs, passed away April. 12, 2016 near his home in McAlester, Oklahoma. He was 66.

Known for his keen sense of humor, “Big, Bad Bob” was born June 17, 1949 in Denver, Colorado, to Clara (Bahmeier) and Robert Shively. He was later adopted by stepfather Lewis McCoy and graduated high school in Douglas County in 1969. Although he was drafted by the U.S. Army May 7, 1969 and sent to the Vietnam War, he was very proud to have served his country, especially alongside long-time friend “Little Bob”. McCoy was a Private, First-Class E3, and was a light wheel vehicle mechanic and infantryman March 20, 1970-February 1971. He served in the Reserves through May 1, 1975. As part of the First Battalion, Fourth and 22nd Infantries, he traveled from base camp in Fort Lewis, Wash.; basic training in Fort Ord, Calif.; to Long Binh, Siagon; Phan Thiet, Cambodia, Cam Ranh Bay, and provided guard duty in Ankhe. He earned the Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and Expert Badge with rifle and automatic rifle bars, and three bronze service stars.

He loved anything with a motor (that would run), and continued working as a mechanic throughout the rest of his life. He ran parts for several mechanic shops in the Denver area, and raced sponsor cars in crash derbies and figure-eight races. As a family man, he worked for AMAX for more than two decades as a heavy machinery mechanic. First he worked at Henderson mine, and transferred to the mill when the family moved to Hot Sulphur Springs. He moved to McAlester, Okla. to take care of his father and stepmother and retired as head mechanic and groundsman for sleepwear company Komar of McAlester, Okla. (where he enjoyed visiting with the ladies in the sewing rooms!).

He enjoyed taking people out on his pontoon boat (souped-up to water ski behind and complete with an ouga-horn he got as a Father’s Day gift) including several memorable trips to Lake Powell. He enjoyed other family trips, by train to Glenwood Springs, road trips to both American coasts, and loved scenic drives to see many waterways, including dams and reservoirs. He had always wanted to go back to Aruba, and in 2015 he got his first passport and embarked on a trip to there, Puerto Rico, and on his first-ever cruise (to Sts. Marteen and Thomas, and Gran Turk). He also got to be part of the inaugural cruise port at Cape Canaveral, and enjoyed thrill rides at Disney World.

He was known for wearing knee socks with shorts (earning him nickname Li’l Abner by his mother-in-law), had a deep appreciation for a simple good bowl of popcorn, and loved the Eagles. Most of all, he loved his daughters. He relished any time he could spend with them and was glad to return to Colorado each summer and fall to visit with them and the rest of his family.

The oldest of five children, he is survived by two daughters, Joy and Cynthia McCoy, of Fraser, Colo.; and a stepson, Mark Wylie, of Monument, Colo.; sisters Linda Dart of Arkansas and Sally (Ron) Pippin of Kiowa, Colo.; and two brothers, Rick (Linda) of Gypsum, Colo. and Les (Ruth) of Aurora, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Cremation was his wish, with the ashes to be spread at the places he loved. A service in his honor is planned Saturday, June 18 at Crescent Park in Denver (e-mail mcjoyjoy@hotmail.com for further info.). In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to a hospice of choice.


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