John Milton McCoy

June 25, 1928 - September 19, 2020

On September 19, 2020, John Milton McCoy, loving husband to Opal Faye (Mobley) McCoy, passed away at the age of 92. He was born on June 25, 1928 in Salem, Indiana, the youngest child of William Orrin and Mary Frances (Colglazier) McCoy. John graduated from Salem High School in 1947, and then served in the United States Navy from 1948-52 during the Korean conflict. Opal and John married on May 26, 1962, at the First Baptist Church of Salem, in what was described in the local paper as “quiet, impressive rites”. At that time, John was the new owner of Hamilton Motors in Brownstown. He continued to operate this Ford dealership for many years, until it closed in 2007. In an interview near the time of Hamilton Motors’ closing, McCoy reflected on his years in the business, remarking “A lot of people have been very good to me over the years. People have a tendency to treat you the way you treat them.” John dedicated much of his life to community organizations and local service. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite, the Elks, Lions, VFW, and the American Legion. He became a member of the Schneck Medical Center board of trustees in 1981 and served on the board until 2019, including 18 years as board president, roles he cherished for the ways they enabled him to improve and give back to the community he loved. At the time of his retirement from the board of trustees, he was the longest serving trustee in the 108-year history of Schneck Medical Center. In 2002, John was the recipient of the Brownstown Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. He and Opal were long-time members of Brownstown Presbyterian Church. Preceding John in death were his parents and his siblings: William Orrin McCoy, Junior, who died at age four in 1926, Carolyn June (McCoy) Sutherlin, and Jean Kathleen (McCoy) Zink. John McCoy was a sincerely optimistic man who deeply loved his community and his family. He always referred to Jackson County as “God’s country” and whenever someone asked how he was doing, he would unfailingly reply that “he had never had it so good.” His memory is a blessing to those who survive him: his loving wife Opal and their large extended family. Funeral services for John Milton McCoy will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at Spurgeon Funeral Home, Inc., Brownstown, with James (J.C.) Blankenbeker officiating. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at the funeral home. Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, Spurgeon Funeral Home, Inc. will be practicing social distancing according to CDC guidelines. Masks are required when entering the funeral home. Military honors will be presented by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925, American Legion Post 89, Disabled American Veterans 47 and Vietnam Vets 7. Interment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem. Donations in John’s memory may be made to Schneck Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Brownstown Presbyterian Church, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Online memorials and condolences may be given at www.spurgeonfh.com