Edward Herman McCoy

Edward Herman “Eddie” McCoy, age 89, passed away on June 1, 2024, at Saint Mary’s Hospital, from complications sustained from an auto accident he was in on May 28, 2024. 

Eddie was born in a coal camp in Lorado, WV. He was the fourth son out of five to Elisha “Lish” Herman McCoy and Velva Spears McCoy. 

Eddie moved to Aarons Creek in Ranger, WV when he was 4 years old and his family eventually moved to Nine Mile in Midkiff, WV. 

Eddie grew up in Midkiff and went to the schoolhouse on Nine Mile and eventually Guyan Valley High School. 

Eddie left high school to help on the family farm and on January 8, 1954, he left to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. On December 20, 1957, as a Korean War Veteran, Eddie returned to Midkiff after the passing of his father. 

It was then that Eddie met and married his wife of 50 years, Doris Jean Adkins, and began his adventure in life raising four children. 

Eddie was a simple man who believed in honesty. He believed that no person was any better than anyone else, everyone was the same whether a person was rich or poor. His philosophy was, “Everyone puts their pants on the same way, one leg at a time.”  Eddie was an avid raiser of a garden. He believed in canning his own food and growing his own corn for cornmeal. He believed in saying what he thought, his phrase “plain talk is easily understood,” was a favorite quote Eddie used when talking to his family and friends.

Eddie loved his wife and children. He loved any child. Eddie loved to have fun and joke around. He pushed the boundaries of life to its fullest. He was fired from McComas Dairy on Salt Rock Road West Hamlin, WV, for giving out chocolate milk to kids who asked. He didn’t mind, it made a child’s day to get free chocolate milk. 

Eddie loved to do work with is hands and build things. He was an avid hunter who ate what he killed, but even though he hunted several different game animals, Eddie’s ultimate love was rabbit hunting. 

Eddie had several residents throughout his lifetime. He moved with his family to Ypsilanti, Michigan and became a member of the Carpenters Union in that area. He worked with his older brothers, Cecil McCoy and Ernest McCoy, along with his nephews David McCoy and John McCoy. Eddie had fond memories of the work he did with everyone and told the stories to go along with each workplace adventure. 

Eddie moved to Ocoee, Florida with his brother Ernest to do carpentry work and eventually moved back to Ypsilanti, Michigan. 

Eddie then left Michigan to move to White River Junction, Vermont. There Eddie became the owner and operator of Mac’s Shoes and went on to incorporate Mac’s Shoe Repair into the business. Eddie remained in Vermont for several years until the mountains of WV called. 

Eddie made his final family move back to Branchland, WV and lived with his wife and family until the passing of his wife. 

Eddie then married Darlene Adkins Vickers Davidson and relocated to Lower Heath Creek in Cabell County. 

Edward Herman McCoy was proceeded in death by his wife, Doris Jean Adkins, his son, Myron David, his parents Elisha and Velva McCoy, his brothers, Hershel, Cecil, Ernest, and Ralph, his sisters Dovetta “Tootsie” Browning and Loretta Jean Lovejoy and his son-in-law whom Eddie admired very much, Justin Dale Hanna and his daughter-in-law, Deborah Ann Schwartz McCoy.

Those who are left behind to mourn his loss and rely on the memories they now have of Eddie are his second wife, Darlene, his children W. Michael McCoy (Sheila); Mark Edward McCoy; and Maria Lynn McCoy-Hanna, his six grandchildren Johanna Manbeck (Chuck), Sean McCoy, Steven Curcio (Emily), Ethan Curcio (Kayla),Tana McCoy, David McCoy,  six great grandchildren, and three adult step-sons, Jimmy Vickers, Kevin Vickers, and Randy Vickers, several nieces and nephews who were all his favorites because he loved each and every one of them differently but yet the same and several great nieces and nephews along with many cousins. . 

Dad, Papaw, Uncle Eddie, Eddie will be so, so missed by each and every one of us and those people he thought of as dear friends. 

Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Sunday June 9, 2024, at McGhee-Handley Funeral Home West Hamlin with Junior Adkins and Chris Fulks officiating. Eddie will be laid to rest in Sander’s Cemetery, Low Gap Branch Road, Branchland, WV, next to his wife, Doris Jean. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the ALS charity in memory of his wife, Doris Jean, whom he took care of until she passed. 

Thank you all for your prayers of comfort.