James W. McCoy

James W. McCoy, age 68, of Highland, IL., died Friday, January 5, 2007, at Elmwood Nursing & Rehabilitation in Maryville, IL. He was born April 24, 1938, in Olney, IL., the son of Robert and Opal (Craig) McCoy. On October 11, 1959, he married Sara A. McCoy , who survives. He was also a member of Fraternal Order of Police , Lodge 41, Springfield, IL. Mr. McCoy was born at Olney, IL; grew up there and graduated from Odin High School in 1956. He joined the US Army that fall and served with the l0lSt. Ariborne as a paratrooper. Following his service, he returned home to work at Illinois Central Carshop in Centralia, IL for serveral months. He started working for the Centralia Police Department in Janury 1961 and worked there for over 9 years. He was a member of the second class to graduate from the Illinois Bureau of Investigation in March 1970. He worked for the IBI as an undercover agent, sting operations, drug enforcement and with the organized crime unit. In 1977 the IBI merged with the Illinois State Police. He worked in intelligence for a number of years and finished his duty at the Casino Queen in E.St.Louis - he retired in December 1992 as a Sgt. From May of 1994 until the Summer of 2003 he did private duty security work at the Casino Queen. During his law enforcement days, he had received two Governor\'s metals and a number of accomodation letters. He loved to play golf; he and his wife had visited all the States except Alaska and Hawaii. They had also travelled to Canada, Mexico and Japan. Jim was a coin collector; a Cardinals Baseball fan and enjoyed his family. Survivors include Wife-Sara A. McCoy of Highland, Ill., Daughter-Stacie D. McCoy of Pierron, Ill., Daughter-Kellie E. (Won) Min of Valencia, Calif., Grandchild-Lauren A. Witschie of Highland, Ill., Grandchild-Colt J. Witschie of Highland, Ill., Grandchild-Vivian T. Min of Valencia, Calif., Brother-Robert L. McCoy, Jr. of Arkansas, Brother-John D. (Betty) McCoy of Austin, Texas He was preceeded in death by Father-Robert Leroy McCoy, Mother-Opal Fern McCoy, Sister-Rita Thomas, Sister-Karen Waggoner.

James W. McCoy

April 24, 1938 - January 5, 2007