Joel McCoy

Joel (Joe) Andrew McCoy, 66, of Unionville died on August 9 at the IU Hospice House after a brave battle with cancer. He was born at home in Unionville on July 25, 1947, to Lloyd Joel and Ruth Evelyn (Arthur) McCoy.

Joel graduated in 1965 from Unionville High School where he was a member of the basketball and cross country teams. In July of 1966, he was drafted into the Army, serving for three years including 18 months in Vietnam. After an honorable discharge, he worked at Sarkes Tarzian briefly before beginning a 42-year career at the Indiana University Department of Biology, retiring in June of 2011. Joel was a long-time member of Little Union Baptist Church, serving as a trustee for several years and helping with many youth activities. He happily spent a good number of years volunteering at Danny Smith Memorial Baseball Park where he coached his sons’ baseball teams and served as board president and in other positions. He also worked many Unionville Elementary school carnivals and other school-sponsored events. Joel loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. His greatest joy came in hunting and fishing with the boys. Long after the days of his personal desire to frequent the woods or the banks of the water, he wanted to go with his sons and grandsons. He was more excited for them to bring in the big deer and turkey or reel in the “big one” than he was his own take. He was at every sporting event during his sons’ playing days and until this year, rarely missed the grandsons’ ballgames. In recent months, he delighted in playtime with the youngest grandson, doing silly things that only grandparents do to get a laugh from the baby, and was already planning that first hunt with him. Joel spent most of the Spring, Summer, and Fall tending a large garden and working in the yard. It wasn’t a chore; it was a labor of love.

Joel is survived by his loving wife, Connie, of 44 years; his three favorite sons and daughters-in-law, Joshua (Lisa), Tyler (Lacey), and Zachary (Amanda) of Unionville and four-light of his life grandsons, Jordan, Caleb, Caden, and Emmitt.

He is also survived by nieces and nephews and by brother-in-law, Larry (Debra) Skirvin, sisters-in-laws, Joyce (Brent) Hawkins, and Mary Beth (Rick) Jerrells.