Peggy Bryan McCoy

Peggy Jean McCoy, 75, passed away peacefully among family after a prolonged illness on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Her husband, Johnny M. McCoy, shares with family and friends our prayer for peace.

Born August 24, 1949, in Columbia, TN, to James Porter Young, a circuit preacher and tinkerer, and Irene Walton Boyd, a homemaker, Peggy grew up the middle child in a cast of four little rascals. Her big sister, Linda Sue Gillenwater; her little brother, James Allen Young; and of course the baby, Rosemary King, were raised in love within a broader family in Maury County. Peggy attended Central High School in Columbia, TN.

A marriage, an enlistment into the Vietnam War, and the birth of her two sons greeted her in the late 60s/70s. The first airplane Peggy ever flew in was headed to Thailand to visit her G.I.

Shawn C. and William J. Bryan were Peggy’s most important, above all other, considerations. Dedication to her children’s needs remained her priority throughout her life. Settling in Jackson, TN, to raise two rambunctious boys, she gained many life-long friends through the many vocations she engaged such as nursing assistant and manicurist. Always drawn toward gadgets, Peggy’s first cellular phone rested in a bag which hung from her shoulder and was often left in the car.

Johnny M. McCoy came into Peggy’s life, and they were married in 1990. She and her life partner provided doting care upon each other, enjoying each other’s company, watching westerns.

Peg is preceded in death by her father, mother, big sister, and little brother. She is survived by her devoted husband, Johnny M. McCoy (Jackson TN); her little sister, Rosemary King (Eddie) (Columbia, TN); her sons, Shawn C. Bryan (Jennifer) (York, PA) and Billy Bryan (Virgia) (Jackson, WY); two grandchildren, Holly G. Bryan (Odenton, MD) and Bechler J. Bryan (Jackson, WY); a niece, Sarah L. Boyd (Columbia TN); sister-in-love Patsy Young (Columbia), and brother-in-love, David Gillenwater (Johnson City, TN). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society or the Arbor Day Foundation.

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam.

And for a brief moment its glory and beauty

belong to our world.

But then it flies on again,

and though we wish it could have stayed,

we feel so lucky to have seen it.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for a future date.