Jerome McCoy, Sr.

Jerome (Jerry) Dean McCoy passed away the morning of Nov 8, 2016, at his daughter’s home at Vallecito Lake, CO. He was born in Liberty, MO on Feb 28, 1931 to Thelma Rebecca and Joseph Perrean McCoy. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 until 1955. In 1954 he married Elaine Cummins, the mother of his two children. Attending William Jewell College in Liberty, MO on a football scholarship, he received a BA in Physics. He was the first American to receive a doctorate from the University of Helsinki in Finland, receiving his Doctorate in Nuclear Physics. He had to bow to the President of Finland in a ceremony where he was presented with a top hat and sword. He was on the faculty of the University of Tulsa from 1958 to 1978 as a Professor of Physics and Chairman of the Division of Physical Sciences. He had a break in his job with TU when he worked for North American Rockwell and Sylvania Electronics. In 1985 he bought Silver Streams Lodge at Vallecito. His love for this area kept him here for the rest of his life. After he sold Silver Streams in 1994 he worked as an Associate Real Estate Broker first for Bayfield Realty, then Coldwell Banker and then Remax, operating the Vallecito branches. He was active in several Vallecito organizations.

Jerry proved himself to be unusually bright and capable setting a high bar for himself, working tirelessly to achieve his own expectations. His children learned excellence from him as a way of life. He possessed a keen sense of humor and was exceptionally outgoing, engaging friends and strangers alike. He deeply loved his family, was endlessly loyal, generous to a fault and could always be counted on for support. He was fun-loving and adventurous, always alert for new experiences. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the US, Central America and the USSR. He had his private pilot’s license and loved riding his BMW motorcycle. Jerry cared genuinely for people, and in return, people cared genuinely for Jerry.

He was preceded in death by his sister Patricia McCoy Bennion. He is survived by his two children, daughter Heather Kinailuk of Vallecito, and son, Jerome Dean McCoy, Jr. of Tulsa, OK. He is also survived by two nephews, Brent Bennion of Vallecito and Joseph Evan Bennion of Arkansas, five grandchildren, Jesse Kinailuk of Vallecito, Austin McCoy of Lakewood, CO, Amy Swails of Franklin Springs, GA, Spencer McCoy currently in Jeju, South Korea, Andy McCoy, Tulsa, OK, and one great grandchild, Eliana Swails.

Pastor Dan Straw will officiate at a memorial service to be held at the Vallecito Community Event Center on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. Potluck following services.