Robert C. McCoy

Robert C. McCoy, of Asheville, died July 14, 2008 of natural causes at the age of 87. The only child of Reed and Blanche McCoy, Bob was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1921, where he grew up and married Jean McCully. Robert McCoy served his country during World War II as a base quartermaster at Fort Recife, Brazil. After his honorable discharge, he and Jean raised three children. During his early professional career, Bob worked in employee relations for Wolverine Tube Company and later for American Motors. After completing his Ph.D. at Wayne State University, he worked with several private consulting agencies. In 1981, he retired from his position as Dean of the College of Business at Eastern Michigan University, and he and Jean moved to Brasstown, North Carolina. Drawn to the area as students at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Bob became an active member of the craft community, learning from the craftsmen and providing leadership to the school. Bob McCoy's life centered around community involvement and service to others. He demonstrated these values through his active business and civic involvement in the Detroit area and later as a board member of the John C. Campbell Folk School and faculty member at Tri County Community College and Mars Hill's Extension program. Finally, in his adopted home of Asheville, Bob was an active member of the Jubilee Community and also devoted a great deal of time and energy to Habitat for Humanity, Manna Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and the local chapter of the Red Cross. A devoted husband and father, he modeled his deeply-held belief that we each share responsibility for all other members of our world community. He is survived by Jean McCoy, his wife of 64 years, and his children who all learned from his example. Rick and his wife, Sue of Canton Michigan; Marcus and his wife, Mari of Peachtree City, Georgia: and Sally, of Burnsville, NC. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Jared, Meghan, Joe, and Sasha. He will be remembered at a brief memorial service held at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Rd. on Thursday July 17, 2008, at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow at the Crowfields Clubhouse. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in Bob's name be made to Habitat for Humanity or Manna Food Bank.