John Robert McCoy, known affectionately to family and friends as Big John, Johnny Bob, or JB, passed away December 15th, 2017 after a long fight against several chronic health conditions. Born February 18th, 1957 in his family home in Gallipolis Ferry, he grew up on the McCoy family farm surrounded by his eight aunts and uncles and all of their children. It was there that he learned to love the land and all one could do with it, a passion he would carry with him his entire life.

He was a 1975 graduate of Point Pleasant High School, where he was extremely active in the Future Farmers of America and 4-H. He attended Potomac State College and majored in agriculture, but a gig working campus security eventually took him down a different path. John was a 1983 graduate of the West Virginia State Police Academy and gave over two decades of his life to serving and protecting the people of Mason County.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Earl and Marie McCoy; his mother, Patricia Hill; his in-laws, James and Betty Burnem; several aunts and uncles, one brother-in-law, one nephew, and one cousin.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Gwendolyn; sons Sheridan Cleland and James Cleland of Gallipolis Ferry, WV; daughters Ashley Kaylor (Adam) of Point Pleasant, WV; Natasha Rayburn (Kevin) of Milton, WV; and Kayla M. McCoy of Ronceverte, WV; grandchildren Jaden, Caleb, Taylor, Hayden, Mason, and Everleigh; brother Patrick Hill (Tina) of Henderson, WV;  sisters Trish Bonecutter (Ron) of Gallipolis Ferry, WV; Ella Schultz (Jon) of Gallipolis Ferry, WV, and Charlie Roach (Bill) of Hartford, WV; several dear aunts and uncles, more cousins and nieces and nephews than this author can count, and many special friends of his children who he loved like his own.

We will miss his humor, his life lessons, his furrowed brow, his tomatoes, his guidance, and his indomitable strength and dignity.

Friends and family may visit Deal Funeral Home on Thursday, December 21st from 6 to 8 PM. Funeral services will be at Deal Funeral Home on Friday, December 22nd at 11 AM. At John's request, burial will be at the convenience of the family.

The family would like to thank the staff of DaVita Dialysis and the nursing staff of St. Mary's Medical Center for their incredible displays of knowledge and their dedication to John during his toughest days.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John McCoy Memorial Fund at City National Bank locations.