Harold McCoy

Harold Wallace McCoy died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at his home in Durango. He was 90.

Mr. McCoy was born March 18, 1921, to Fred and Amee Zadell (Brown) McCoy at the family ranch on the south fork of Texas Creek outside Bayfield. He was one of seven siblings.

Mr. McCoy attended the old Columbus school on the Pine River, and then he worked construction and ranching until he was drafted during World War II. He served honorably in the 158th Army Air Drome Squadron as a communica­tion corpsman and spoke of flying over the hump (the Himalayas) many times in large cargo and bomber planes.

He met Martha Gibbs, the love of his life, and the couple married June 28, 1948.

After the military, Mr. McCoy worked construc­tion on the Vallecito Res­ervoir and later did line work for the Rural Electric Association. For 38 years, Mr. McCoy also worked for the Colorado Department of Highways and then for the Colorado State Forest Service. He was most proud of his work as crew chief for the Animas Overlook, which is still enjoyed by locals and visitors.

He also was an avid gar­dener, hunter and Broncos fan.

Mr. McCoy is survived by his wife of 64 years, Martha McCoy of Duran­go; children, Dennis McCoy and Carla Matney, both of Durango, David McCoy of Phoenix, Kay Henry of Chandler, Ariz., Darrel McCoy of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Duane McCoy of Hous­ton; siblings Ted McCoy of Durango and Audrey Tal­madge of Concordia, Calif., 19 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

The family has request­ed that donations in Mr. McCoy’s name be made to Hospice of Mercy, 1 Merca­do St., Suite 270, Durango, CO 81301.

Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Tues­day, Oct. 18, 2011, at Hood Mortuary. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, at Hood Mor­tuary with burial to follow at Greenmount Cemetery.