Cleveland McCoy Jr.

Cleveland McCoy Jr., born November 30, 1930, in San Augustine, Texas, the son of Cleveland “Buddy” McCoy Sr. and Emma Beatrice Ballard McCoy.  McCoy spent his formative years with two sisters, Willie Fay McCoy Price and Jewel Dean McCoy Lane, along with his great grandparents William McCoy Jr. and Eliza Sparks Singleton, grandmother Sarah Polk Washington, grandparents Arthur McCoy and Sudie Dennis McCoy and twelve aunts and uncles.

 He attended the public schools in San Augustine, Texas and later in Orange, Texas, living with his uncle Dave McCoy.  He eventually returned to San Augustine where he graduated high school in 1948. Following high school McCoy worked 24 months with Cooksey Motors as a mechanics helper – assisting with major and minor automobile repairs.  He attended Butler College in Tyler, Texas, where he studied Biological Science from 1950 to 1952.  During his second year of college his studies were interrupted when he was suddenly drafted into the United States Army in 1952.

McCoy received his basic training at Camp San Luis Obispo Army Base located in San Luis Obispo, California.  He was trained to be a Communications Mechanic where he maintained audio frequency within companies in designated areas and specific locations.  After his initial training McCoy received a 30 day leave and traveled to Texas to visit family and friends.  Also, during his leave McCoy married his college sweetheart, Annie Lee Mosley, on November 24, 1952, in Fresno, California.  Following his leave McCoy traveled to Camp Stoneman, located in Pittsburg, California, onto Washington State, Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan and finally Korea.  He was assigned to Charley Company #159 for 22 months in the artillery unit where they were under enemy fire regularly.

Decorated And Recognized:  McCoy received the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Two Bronze Service Stars and the United Nations Service Medal.

 Civilian Life:  After leaving service in 1954 with an honorable discharge and the rank of Private, McCoy started work in the public sector with North American Aviation in Fresno, California, where he was an Aircraft Electrical Mechanic installing various electronic equipment and the rank of a wide range of electrical components used in the aircraft system. 

In 1958 McCoy hired on with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company, located in Sunnyvale, California.  During his tenure at Lockheed McCoy continued his studies at San Jose City College studying Electronics and Technical Drawing and DeAnza College in Cupertino, California, studying Data Processing Fortran IV.; Computer Programming for General Education; Computers and Society; Decision Making with Computers; Introduction to Operating Systems; and Functional Technical Writing.  Also, McCoy received other special training and skills to further his career at Lockheed: L.M.S.C.: Electronics (Semi-Conductor); Introduction to Data Processing Techniques, Basic Data Processing (Cobol); Fortran IV Primer and Product Assurance Supplier.  He held various positions; Electrical & Electronics Development Mechanic, Computer Operator, Electronics Production Planner and finally Engineering Experimental Planner where he utilized blueprints, sketches, written and oral instructions to plan production and interpret engineering design drawings to determine the proper sequence of steps required to manufacture electronic aerospace hardware and approve completed units or recommend rework as required.

In 1963 McCoy and Aunt Annie adopted a precious baby son, Richard Daniel McCoy Sr.  During McCoy’s younger days he was an avid golfer.  He was a wonderful person who never really grew old.  His smile was like a sunshiny day and his heart was solid gold.  On March 31, 1970, McCoy married his second wife, Mamie Noel Kirk Terrell.  To this union was born a special baby daughter, Shirley Ann McCoy.  He also assisted in the rearing of his step-niece, Heidi Elizabeth Kirk Senior.  In later years McCoy was with his long-time partner of 31 years, Cora Jean Harris Jenkins.

After 40 years of service McCoy retired from Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company.  Our father, grandfather and uncle was a person of great courage and strength:

Served his country when called to duty in the United States Army
Received the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Two Bronze Service Stars and the United Nations Service Medal
Received a Silver Veteran’s Badge from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
A Fire Casualty Insurance Agent
Member of the Lettermen’s Athletic & Social Club of San Jose, California
Member of the M. W. John A. Bell Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of California, Inc. – Lodge #15 located in San Jose, California
Life time membership “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People”
Life time contributor to various “HBCUs” – Historically Black Colleges and Universities 

McCoy was preceded in death by many precious loved ones; parents: Cleveland  “Buddy” McCoy Sr. and Emma Beatrice Ballard McCoy; wives: Annie Lee Mosley McCoy and Mamie Kirk Terrell McCoy; Children: Richard Daniel McCoy Sr. and Shirley Ann McCoy; sisters; Willie Fay McCoy Price and Jewel Dean McCoy Lane; nephews: Floyd Allen Clay, Holman Earl Price and Kelvin Franklin Price; niece Sarah Frances Clay Brown; great grandparents William McCoy Jr. and Eliza Sparks Singleton, grandmother Sarah Polk Washington and grandparents Arthur McCoy and Sudie Dennis McCoy, twelve aunts and uncles, brother in-laws: Rev. Holman Coleman Price, James Clay and James Lane Sr. and his long-time partner of 31 years, Cora Jean Harris Jeakins.

Remembering McCoy’s smile are three grandchildren: Kadeja Cimone McCoy of Burlington, New Jersey, Richard Daniel McCoy Jr. of Brooklyn, New York and Annquon Cleveland McCoy of Fresno, California; eight nephews and nieces; James Edward Clay and Dorothy Jean Clay Watts, both of San Augustine, Texas; Commissioner John Wiley Price of Dallas, Texas; Calvin Earl Clay of Houston, Texas, Shotzie Sue Price of Missouri City, Texas; Vanessa Marie Price Harris of San Jose, California; Jerry Earl McCoy of Huntsville, Texas and Elizabeth Renee Price Duggan of Forney, Texas; two very special grand-nephews, Robert Lynn Brown of San Augustine, Texas and Jontue Earston Harris of San Jose, California; a very special grand-niece, Shari Elone Jackson of Las Vegas, Nevada and a step-niece, Heidi Elizabeth Kirk Senior of Atlanta, Georgia, many more grand and great nieces and nephews along with many family members and friends.

“Remember me with smiles and laughter for this is the way I will remember you all.”

 A special “Thank You” to McCoy’s co-workers, friends and neighbors; Agustin Hernandez & Family, Beverly King, Sacramento Calderon & Family, Cynthia Manaay & Family, Gloria Hughes, Jennie Deh, Marilyn Sumida & Family, Mario & Oti Enriquez & Family, Peter Goldsmith & Family, Ruchi Gowda & Family, Satya & Swati Mishra & Family and Tyra Brown.

Acknowledgements:  The family of Cleveland McCoy Jr. would like to thank each of you for your love and support, your phone calls, flowers, visits, words of comfort and prayers which are most appreciated.  The family would also like to extend their gratitude to Dr. Daniel Chyu, Kaiser Permanente, the Kaiser Home Health and Hospice Teams, both of San Jose, California and the Senior Helpers Caregivers of San Jose, California.  May each of you continue to be blessed in so many ways.

Thank You to:

 Darling & Fischer Garden Chapel, 
471 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, California 95112 - (408) 998-2226
 
Percy Garner & Son Mortuary, 
304 Ironosa Street, San Augustine, Texas 75972 - percygarnerandson@yahoo.com/(936) 275-2511

Mr. Stephen Westley Johnson, 
Program Designer, - www.webheadgraphics.com/(707) 330-6642

Written by Vanessa Marie Price Harris