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Who Joltin' Jim McCoy
What Obituary: Jim McCoy
When September 7, 2016
Where Berkeley Springs, WV
 

James Wesley McCoy, age 87, of Berkeley Springs, WV, formerly of Winchester, VA, died on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at his home while under the care of Hospice of the Panhandle.

Born April 11, 1929 at Highland Ridge, WV, he was the son of the late Peter Wesley and Carrie Virginia Henry McCoy.

He was a Christian. Jim attended the Highland School. Jim was a retired radio disc jockey and had worked at WINC-WRFL-WHPL radio stations. He was station manager of gospel radio station WEFG in Winchester. In the 1960’s, 1970’s and early 1980’s, he was a DJ at WTRI in Brunswick, MD. He also spent two years as station manager at WAKS in Fuquay-Varina, NC. He owned Jim McCoy’s Music Store and Jim McCoy’s Market in Winchester. Jim and his wife Bertha owned and operated The Troubadour Lounge and, in 1992, started the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame, Berkeley Springs.

He was a leader of country music bands; Jim McCoy & the Melody Playboys and the Nite Lifers Band and at age 14, Bud Messner gave Jim a chance to sing on his radio show at WJEJ in Hagerstown, MD. He formed his own band, The Melody Playboys and performed live shows on WINC in Winchester where he met Patsy Cline, starting a life-long friendship with her until her death in 1963. He played many local venues, appeared on The Grand Ole Opry and the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree in Nashville, TN and at the Old Dominion Barn Dance in Richmond, VA. Jim played many times at the Wheeling Jamboree on WWVA in Wheeling, WV. He worked with many of country music’s great artists.

He was a lifetime member of R.O.P.E., the Reunion of Professional Entertainers, the American Federation of Musicians Union, served as State Director of the National Country Music Corporation of West Virginia and served as president of the Country Music Association of West Virginia. A book of Jim’s life entitled Joltin’ Jim, His Life in Country Music, was written by John Douglas and researched by John Newbraugh.

Jim was presented numerous awards for his musical accomplishments including the following; He was inducted into the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame on August 31, 2003, was inducted into the Southern Legends Entertainment and Performing Arts Hall of Fame on September 4, 2005, was inducted into America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame on August 30, 2006, received the First Spirit Award ever given by the Country Music Hall of Fame on November 21, 2009 and in September of 2011 received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his valuable contributions to America’s own music from the National Traditional Country Music Association.

Surviving are his wife, Bertha Jane Shrout McCoy, at home, his children, Sharon Diana Easter of Newport News, VA, Kevin Lee McCoy and Wesley “Wes” Dean McCoy, both of Berkeley Springs, Angela Kay Wolf, Penny Jay McCoy and James “Jimmy” Wesley McCoy, Jr., all of Santee, CA, Pastor Lawrence Andrew Shanholtz of Sheboygan, WI, Peyton Page O’Bannion of Capon Bridge, WV and David Scott Shanholtz of Highview, WV, three sisters, Betty Lou Hovermale and Barbara Ann Perry, both of Berkeley Springs and Judy Lee Shifflett of Hancock, MD, one brother, Joseph Albert McCoy of Berkeley Springs, 21 grandchildren, Scott Easter of Salem, VA. Timothy Easter of Newport News, VA, Chris Abbott of Ft. Bragg, NC, Michael Abbott of Kentucky, Nathaniel McCoy of Winchester, VA, Andrew McCoy, Joseph Phillips, Wesley McCoy, Jr., Roy James McCoy, Bethany McCoy and James McCoy, all of Berkeley Springs, Richard Lee McCoy, Brianne Wolf and Kaylee Wolf, all of Santee, CA, Kelly True of Port Charlotte, FL, Courtney Shanholtz and Justin Lorenz of Sheboygan, WI, Rachel Shanholtz Winkler of Ft. Campbell, KY, Zachary Shanholtz of Highview, WV, Michael Tyson, Jr. and Andrew Tyson, both of Winchester, VA, 18 great grandchildren, two great great granddaughters and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three children, Dana Andrew McCoy, Gregory Allen Shanholtz and Jeffrey Clark Shanholtz, one sister, Emily Faye Copeland, one brother, Robert McCoy and one grandson, Kevin McCoy, Jr.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, WV with Pastor Andy Shanholtz officiating. Interment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park in Winchester, VA.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430 or to the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame, 25 Troubadour Lane, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.

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Contact
Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home


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