Coy Eugene Buckley

Coy Eugene Buckley, Sr., died Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Eastern Shore Rehabilitation Center in Daphne, AL. He leaves three daughters, Becky Wright, Dixie McLendon and Dawn Taylor; two sons, Coy and Marshall; two brothers, Bob and Mark; fourteen grandchildren, two great-grandsons and many close friends. Coy was born and raised in Weakley County, TN, the son of Dick and Virginia Buckley. He grew up on a small farm, watching his father tinker on clocks and cars, helping to install the first home electrical system in Dresden, Tennessee and learning to make things work. From his mother, he learned the value of education, etiquette and patience. When he was fourteen, he drove a Model A Ford, painted Case tractor red seated atop an old nail bucket. Coy married his first wife, Patricia Mitchell, moved to Sharon, TN and raised his three beautiful girls. During that time, he worked with Weakley County electric learning the rudiments of the electrical utility trade. He was a lineman, then promoted to engineer within six months. No doubt a reflection of his aptitude, but certainly his charm and attitude played no small part. He later married Linn Barron from Louisiana and moved to Mobile, AL. There he raised two sons, and continued a career in utility sales as practical engineer. He helped municipalities across the South to develop their power systems and supplied them with wire, meters and transformers. As a salesman, he was winsome and genuinely helpful. He was always ready with a joke, and sang the old hymns of Weakley County while he worked in the kitchen. Coy was an avid golfer, but also a perfectionist, which meant that he usually came back from the course more frustrated than he left and with a new swing. He was known to fix everything, sometimes until it broke. In these days, he was a rare breed-one of those men who could do almost anything, from carpentry, electrical work and plumbing to advising on the optimal way to fill the dishwasher. In his later years, he enjoyed an occasional (ill-advised) milkshake, time with his grandchildren and his dogs and the company of his friend, Hope Tallman. He lived a long and varied life, figuring out most things as he went along and telling great stories along the way. We will miss him, knowing there is no way to fill the void he has left behind. Visitation will be held at Forest Hills United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until funeral service time of 12 Noon. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Hospital, P. O. Box 1000,, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148.

Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Radney Funeral Home-Mobile, Mobile, AL.