George Dyer McCoy

George Dyer McCoy, 69, passed away on August 23, 2017 in Raleigh, NC, after fighting pancreatic cancer. George was born on November 28, 1947 to Sam and Anna McCoy in Orlando, Florida. He was predeceased by his parents and an older brother, Richard.

He is survived by his husband, Phillip R. Poovey; sisters Emily (Skip) Wilson and Carol Lockett; sisters-in-law Diane McCoy Moore and Susan Lake (Bob) and brother-in-law Tom Poovey; nieces Debby Abbott, Kathy Bryan, Carolyn Nuscher and Rebecca Smith (Joe); nephews Jim McCoy (Dana), Edwin Lockett and Michael Lockett (Cheryl); and many grand nieces and nephews.

George graduated with a B.A. from Eckerd College and a M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling from UNC-Chapel Hill. He had a long and distinguished career with the State of NC as a rehabilitation counselor and program coordinator with the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Director of the Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Born with hemophilia, George was instrumental in establishing what would become the agency, Hemophilia of NC, back in the 1970’s and was always an advocate for persons with disabilities. In 1987, he volunteered to be the first person in the world to receive a recombinant DNA clotting factor to control bleeding that was free of blood born viruses. When he retired from state service in 2005, he was awarded the Order of the Magnolia, from the Director of the Department of Human Resources and The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, from the Governor. In 2012, he traveled to Paris, France to attend the World Federation of Hemophilia and addressed the conference about his experience as a pioneer in the treatment of hemophilia. In August 2017, he was awarded the Dick James Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Hemophilia Foundation.

George will be greatly missed by his family, his many friends and former colleagues and his neighbors. Thanks and appreciation to the nurses and staff at Transitions LifeCare for the hospice services that allowed George to remain in his home.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Donations in his name may be made to: Hemophilia of NC, 260 Town Hall Drive, Suite A, Morrisville, NC 27560.