John Walter McCoy

John Walter McCoy, 81, of Featherville and Mountain Home, passed away after a brave battle with cancer on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at a local care facility. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at the Elks Lodge in Mountain Home. Arrangements by Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

John was born on September 8, 1938, in Emmett, Idaho, to George and Doris McFarland McCoy. From 1938 to 1942 he lived in various locations in the Idaho backcountry, including Yellowpine, the Snowshoe Mine, and the Flying W Ranch on Cabin Creek. During his younger years John’s family moved frequently since his dad core drilled for the government testing for minerals to help with the war efforts. They lived in California and all over Nevada. He started the first grade in Good Springs, Nevada. From 1945 to 1949 he completed grades 2 through 6 at Emmett and spent his summers in Chamberlain Basin on a family ranch (which is now part of the Frank Church Wilderness, Payette National Forest). In 1950, his family moved to Pine, Idaho, where he worked on the ranch and completed grades 7 and 8. During 1953 to 1956 he attended schools in Nampa, Boise, and finally Cascade, Idaho, where he graduated from high school. John completed one year of college at Idaho State University in Pocatello from 1956 to 1957. He worked from 1957 to 1960 for Fuller and Green Logging Company and then Sawtooth Logging Company building many of the roads near Pine and Featherville. In the fall of 1960 he started his second year of college at Boise Junior College. While working for Sawtooth Lumber Company, he started his sand and gravel business, McCoy Construction, in the Pine/Featherville area. In 1980 the lumber company sold out and John ran his backhoe business full-time. He also worked for the Mountain Home Highway District for a number of years.

John was drafted into the Army in 1962. He was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was in the service for about 13 months when his dad, George, suddenly died. He received an honorable discharge so he could go home and help at the family ranch in Pine. A few years later they sold the ranch at Pine and kept a few acres with the orchard where the old ranch house sat. Today it is known as McCoy Corner.

John met the love of his life, Marlene Baker, while attending school in Pine and later married her on October 19th, 1963. Their son Jack was born in 1966, and their daughter, Cindy, was born in 1969. After selling the ranch they moved to Featherville.

John loved hunting, fishing, and most of all just being in the mountains. He was a man of few words but had the biggest heart.

John is survived by his children Jack and his wife Shalai McCoy, daughter Cindy and her husband Chris Lancaster, his nephews Doug and his wife Tammy Cameron, Ryan and his wife Monica Brower and family, Kirk and his wife Jill Brower and family, Kevin Brower, and his brother-in-law Rod Brower. He is also survived by the greatest joys of his life, his four grandchildren: Jaden Lancaster, Cole Lancaster, Sam McCoy and Jake McCoy, and his great nephews: Gregory Cameron and Aron Cameron.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene McCoy, his parents George and Doris McCoy, his sister Judy McCoy Cameron and his sister-in-law Donna Brower.

John was the heart of our family and loved us all dearly. He is going to be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Donations to John’s memory can be made to Pine-Featherville EMS, 385 N. Alpine, Pine, Idaho 83647, or to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, c/o in memory of John W. McCoy, Salt Lake City, Utah.