Daniel Ray McCoy

Daniel Ray McCoy was born December 29, 1959 in Dallas, TX to Lonnie and Lois JoAnn McCoy. Throughout all of his life, he called the Dallas area home where he attended Mesquite High School. In 1976, on his 17th birthday, he audaciously withdrew and enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed in Norfolk, VA. He served until 1979 and continued his tenure with the Navy until 1982 in the Naval Reserve. The naval ship took him all over Europe and the Bahamas. It was in Nassau where he found his great love for the beach. The ups and downs of sea life were reported home through letters and photos and the letters were reciprocated by his long time pen pal, Lisa Erwin. When Danny returned mainland, this relationship blossomed into a romance and soon into marriage.

On October 11, 1980, Lisa and Danny tied the knot. They were blessed with two daughters, Melissa in 1981 and Lacey in 1993. The adventure with the love of his life spanned for over 41 years. Their covenant of love was steady in the ordinary of the day to day, and was strengthened with special times away. Danny's love of sea and sand called for frequent trips to the Cancun, Mexico area for a saltwater "fix" and breaks from days on the job.

With the skills he gained in the Navy and his great work ethic, employment came easy. Danny worked at Dallas area hospitals, including Children's Medical Center, Medical City Hospital and eventually landed at the Dallas VA Hospital. There he enjoyed several positions among the engineering department, and retired in 2021 as the Industrial Controls Mechanic with over 30 years of service. Through the years, he could not forsake his entrepreneurial spirit. In the early years, he owned a vending business with contracts all over Dallas. Another venture which reflected his love for cars led him to open a local paint and body shop.

One of Danny's greatest hobbies was buying and restoring Mustangs from the 60's. From the mechanics to the aesthetics, Danny could bring them back to life. This joy was rivaled by his love for the NFL, and in particular the Dallas Cowboys. Watching games, playing fantasy football, and winning a weekly football pool brought pleasures galore. Danny enjoyed an eclectic mix of music, and after retirement he added to that enjoyment by learning guitar. He loved the outdoors where he always had a lawn, garden, patio or home improvement project underway. Murphy and Jones, two loved Schnauzers, were his daily companions for all the indoor or outdoor adventures.

Sundays were always a special day of the week. Those days were always framed by early morning coffee and his favorite TV evangelists. Next was mid-morning coffee and donuts, the aforementioned afternoon of football, and for certain- a nap. But especially for Danny, his Christian faith always led him to church. Hymns were his preferred songs of worship, and many lifelong relationships formed with others who shared his love for Jesus.

It was this relationship with Jesus that walked Danny through the diagnosis with terminal, stage 4 lung and brain cancer. Danny spent 95 days telling everyone of his future home in heaven, and the job that he was certain God had held for him there. He assured everyone that he deeply loved them and had loved doing life with them. He expressed his great love for his lifetime love Lisa and his two girls that framed in his daily world. He had no regrets.

Danny is survived by his wife Lisa McCoy, his daughters Melissa and Lacey McCoy. His mother JoAnn Ward. His brother Lonnie (Randy) McCoy and wife Desiree. His sister Lori Hensley and husband John. Also a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles, and in-laws who love him.

He is preceded in death by his father, Lonnie McCoy.

Lisa and all of the family thank their many friends and extended family for the love, prayers and support that they have received during Danny's extended illness, and now his death.

John 14: 1-3 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am."

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