Hubert R. McCoy

Hubert R. McCoy, aged 92, affectionately known as “Poppy” to his friends and family, slipped away peacefully on January 23, 2025 at home in Niota, TN. Born July 30, 1932 in Hancock County, TN to a farming family, Poppy remained a simple man of the earth whose devotion to his faith in God and family guided him throughout his life.

A member of Niota United Methodist Church, he was a veteran of the United States Army and served his country during the Korean War. Shortly after his discharge, he followed his brothers, Pierce and Jeptha, and sister, Virgie, to Dayton, Ohio where he worked for the Defense Electronics Supply Center and Wright Patterson Air Force Base until his retirement and return to Tennessee in 1987.

Master gardener, woodworker, lover of bluegrass, and formidable cornhole and rummy player, Poppy was known for his generosity, competitive spirit, good-natured ribbing, and sausage gravy. He was always ready to fix, engineer, or build anything, earning him the esteemed family title of “handier-than-a-shirt-pocket.”

He was the devoted and beloved husband of Jane Brakebill McCoy. Together they raised four children: Carol Rumbolt (spouse, Shawn), Marcia, Kathy, and Richard. He was preceded in death by parents Dewey and Laura Ethel (Mills) McCoy, infant son James Allen McCoy, daughter Marcia Lynn McCoy, in-laws Joseph and Mildred (Edgmon) Brakebill, and siblings Pierce, Dexter, Earl, Virgie, Jeptha, Dorothy, Dora, and Judith, survived by sibling, Bonnie.

He found immense joy in sharing stories about his four grandsons, Kevin Rumbolt, Matthew Rumbolt, Jake Grayson, and Max Grayson, with anyone who would listen, often with a twinkle in his eye. He welcomed granddaughter Samantha Cowie Rumbolt (spouse of Kevin) to the family, his cherished and number one cornhole partner.

He leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, and a deep appreciation for the simple joys of life. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who know him. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Wounded Warriors Family Support (wwfs.org) or the National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org) 

Funeral services will be 4:00 P.M. Sunday, February 2, 2025 in the Chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with Gary Rogers, Kathy McCoy, and Pastor Alex Thompson officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday from 2:00 PM-4:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, February 3, 2025 at McMinn Memory Gardens. Active pallbearers will be Richard McCoy, Shawn Rumbolt, Kevin Rumbolt, Matt Rumbolt, Jake Grayson, and Max Grayson. 

Condolences may be sent to https://www.laycock-hobbs.com/obituaries/hubert-mccoy

 Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home, Athens, Tenn. in charge of arrangements.