James Marion McCoy

James “Jim” M. McCoy was born on February 20, 1928 in Leoti, Kansas. He went home to Jesus September 8, 2018, passing peacefully with family by his side. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Verne McCoy and Opal Laura Redding; brother Eugene “Hoot” McCoy; sister Florine White; son-in-law Steve Stanis; and grandson Christopher Stanis.

Jim is survived by his loving wife and partner of 67 years, Lillian McCoy; their five children, Mike McCoy, Mark McCoy, Julie Allen, Karen Stanis, and Jeffrey McCoy; Mike’s wife Mary Anne, Mark’s wife Jill Butler, Julie’s husband David, and Jeffrey’s wife Victoria;

Grandchildren: Rebecca, Jenny, Megan, Piper, Hunter, Apryl, Patrick, Amanda, Joshua, Justin, Taylor, Jasmine, Jocelyn, Janna, and Julissa;

Great-grandchildren: Kimberly, Lauren, Emma, Trinity, Tanner, Mateo, Giovanni, Myla, Aiden, Tigur, Riah, Hadassah, Penelope, Liam, Hazel, Abner, Ainsley… and counting;

And all the spouses and loved ones that are now “family” in the truest sense of the word.

Jim had a rich and full life. Born in Leoti, Jim spent his childhood in Lakin, Kansas. In his early years, he was the son of a rancher, a ranch so large they measured fencing laid by the mile. At the age of 17, Jim enlisted in the Navy serving on the aircraft carrier, the USS Rendova, during World War II. He received an honorable discharge in 1947. After the war, while attending college, he and a few buddies decided to enlist in the Army. Jim, always lucky in life, was the only one accepted, leaving his friends to bid him a fond farewell as he boarded a train for Fort Belvoir in Virginia, where he studied engineering and mapping. His first surveying assignment was in Alaska, after being stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco.

During a trip back to San Francisco, he met the love of his life, Lillian. After a night of dancing and the promise to call soon, they said goodbye. After a couple of weeks and no call, Lillian accepted a date from another young man. Serendipitously, they went to the same dance club where Lillian and Jim met, and as fate would have it, Jim was there. Jim called Lillian the next day and they have been together ever since.

The two were married shortly thereafter and on the way to Kansas to meet his parents, he received orders to report to Germany. Lillian returned to San Francisco and later joined Jim after he was settled in Germany. The return trip by boat to the United States a year or more later was a memorable one for Lillian as she was pregnant with their first child, James Michael McCoy.

Once back in California and living in Albany, Jim began work for the State Division of Highways, eventually parlaying that opportunity into a career in the U.S. Forest Service. Jim and Lillian lived in many towns and cities in Northern California; Weaverville, Grass Valley-Nevada City, Forestville, Redding, and Quincy, adding children along the way. In 1965, Jim was promoted to the Regional Office in San Francisco, buying a home and settling down in Concord. Although he was an engineer by trade, a major responsibility was fighting forest fires, which took him away for weeks at a time, leaving Lillian with a houseful of young rapscallions, which she managed and cared for with grace and charm, and the clear understanding that Jim would be home soon to help with the parenting lessons.

In 1983 Jim retired from the Forest Service and he and Lillian began a new adventure, moving to Lake County to create a gentleman’s ranch. “The Ranch”, as the 7M Ranch was affectionately known, started as empty acreage, and became their home when adding fencing, wells, barns, cottages, and of course a house, with the help of family and friends. One of Jim’s great legacies are the memories created there that family holds in their hearts. While Jim enjoyed many successes in life and career, nothing mattered more to him than family, and he repeatedly thanked his Lord for the blessings he and Lillian had in the form of family. In 2002 they sold the ranch and purchased a home in Lincoln where they started building new memories.

While there are many roads and bridges in use in California today that have his fingerprints on them, Jim’s real imprint is seen by the love and admiration that his children, their spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren have for him and him for them. Jim navigated life adhering to simple creeds that he strived to model, one of those being “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. He lived his life by these kinds of truths and those around him were the beneficiaries.

Jim was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Jim’s commitment to family was his highest priority, and he leaves a legacy of love and caring, bonds that will last a lifetime. Jim, or “Mac” as he was known by some, will be held in our hearts forever.

We love you Jim.

Family and friends are invited attend a mass on September 22nd at 10 a.m. at St. Peter & Paul Church, 4450 Granite Dr., Rocklin, California.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 416 Savannah Dr., Lincoln, immediately following the service.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 24th at the Santa Clara Cemetery in Lincoln, California.

If you care to make a donation in Jim’s honor, St. Jude’s was a favorite charity of his, or he would be happy to see you contribute to one of your own.