James Douglas Mccoy

James Douglas “Doug” McCoy entered into eternal rest on March 30, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona, following a brief illness.

Born on Christmas Day 1952 in Mattoon, Illinois, Doug faced life like an adventure and a job to be done right. He accomplished both with aplomb.

When he was a boy, Doug’s family moved from the Midwest to Arizona, where they first put down roots in Phoenix and then settled long-term in Tucson. His parents loved the outdoors and fostered Doug’s love and appreciation for Arizona’s landscapes, especially his Sonoran Desert home, through horseback rides, hikes, and camping trips.

Doug was athletic from the start and swam competitively in Tucson’s summer swim league as a kid. His determined nature and sharp focus helped him become an astute golfer. He played in numerous Tucson youth and amateur tournaments and remained competitive in the sport through his lifetime. He later enjoyed running and riding the 8-mile loop at Saguaro National Park East.

After graduating from Catalina High School in 1970, Doug enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Colorado Springs, where he trained Army Rangers in combat water survival. He was proud of how he served others and his country. Following his service, Doug enrolled at the University of Arizona and proudly received an accounting degree from the Eller College of Management. The Wildcats brought him immeasurable joy over the years, no matter the sport; however, his love of Arizona basketball ran particularly deep, and he delighted in watching the Cats play at McKale.

A chance meeting in 1985 led Doug to the love of his life, Cindy, and her daughter, Katherine, who was then a baby. That’s when Doug’s real adventure began. Doug and Cindy teamed up with the goal of building a tight-knit family and having the most fun. They married in May of 1986, and in the years that followed, welcomed two sons, Matthew and Patrick.

Life with three young children was where Doug shone. He was the rare type of father who truly loved being a dad and cultivated a family life accordingly. He transformed holidays into big celebrations, surprising everyone with gifts that signified his great and unwavering love. He reveled in the joy of his children experiencing life, from their first trips to the beach in San Diego to their first hugs with Mickey at Disneyland, to listening to his favorite bands in the car on the way home from various sports practices. Doug was proud of how his children followed in his scholastic and athletic pursuits. He proudly taught us all how to swing a golf club, throw and catch, and dive from the blocks. He always knew how to solve a problem or how to fix something, and he instilled in his children a work ethic and can-do spirit to get it done, no matter what lay ahead.

When he didn’t happen to be coaching one of his kids’ sports teams, Doug was a fixture on the sidelines. It was important for him to be there for his family, and so he spent countless hours at practices, games, tournaments, and meets. He was a diligent student of sports, which made him a phenomenal coach. Doug was fair and firm, and he knew how to fine-tune an athlete’s performance and mentality. From coaching the Sahuaro High School swim team to a 1982 state championship, to the Catalina Foothills High School swim team to a runner-up finish in 2024, Doug guided hundreds of athletes to success and changed countless lives over more than 40 years.

Professionally, Doug served as the general manager of Lakeside Sportsclub, managed Sportspark complexes in Tucson and throughout California, served as the top pool renovation salesperson at Patio Pools, and was a sales leader at ADT. Following his retirement, he was a frequent substitute teacher at TUSD schools, including Marshall Elementary, where he was a beloved member of the school’s community. He savored the experience of playing some of the most storied golf courses in Arizona and the U.S., as well as adventuring through San Diego and in Italy, France, and Greece with Cindy. He still loved to boogie board on Pacific surf and hike Point Loma.

Most of all, Doug loved spending time with his beloved grandchildren, who were truly the light of his world. As wonderful as Doug was as a father, he was an even more outstanding grandfather, and absolutely lived for the joyful moments he spent with the littlest members of his family.

Our family will remember Doug as our rock. He never ceased to learn and read everything he could, deeply appreciated many artists and genres of music spanning the decades, and enjoyed a good debate. He was as reserved as he was stubborn, was loyal and faithful to his core, and never missed an opportunity to make conversation or make someone laugh. He was our steady guide through the curveballs of challenge and heartbreak, was there for the brightest celebrations and milestones of our lives, and was always supportive in everyday moments. He wanted to make us all proud of what he accomplished, and through his acts of humanity and selflessness, he did that in spades. We are blessed to have been part of his grand adventure.

Doug is survived by his soulmate of nearly 40 years, Cindy (née DeNeau) of Tucson, who was his best friend and fellow adventurer. His legacy lives on through his children, Katherine (Grant) Rivera of Mandeville, Louisiana; Matthew McCoy of Tucson; and Patrick (Amanda) McCoy of Phoenix. His grandchildren, Aiden, Alivia, Charlotte, River, and Jameson, carry forth his love and wonder in all that they do. He is also survived by his sisters Judy (John) Parker of Tucson; Linda Mikiska of Mountainair, New Mexico; and Kathy (Bobbie) Pierce of Payson, Arizona. He is preceded in death by his parents, Sara “Sally” Jayne (née Garrett) and Robert “Mac” Blaine McCoy of Payson, Arizona.

A funeral mass for Doug will take place on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Tucson. A private internment will follow at Our Lady of the Desert Catholic Cemetery in Tucson.

In lieu of flowers, our family requests donations to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, an organization that reflects Doug’s compassion for animals, especially his beloved dogs Misty and Maddie, who were lucky enough to go on long walks with him and dine on his signature well-done sausages for breakfast. Doug also enjoyed supporting (and we know he would appreciate the support of) the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, the Salvation Army, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and Samaritan’s Purse.