Willie H. McCoy passed away on June 22, 2017 after a long courageous battle with multiple health issues, which ultimately led to heart failure.

A 14-year resident of the San Juan Islands, Willie moved from the streets of Los Angeles, California to Orcas Island, which he declared “true paradise” and

“didn’t even believe places like this existed.”

He loved the beauty and laid back nature of the islands and even took up fishing at Cascade Lake, getting there at 6 a.m. and spending many hours just him and his thoughts.

He always had a story to share about his past life. He was not proud of parts of it, but not ashamed either. He wanted to help any “youngster,” as he called anyone under 40 years old, in deterring them from a life of drugs and crime.

His ready smile and contagious laugh put people, who otherwise might have been intimidated by his rough exterior, at ease. Having been raised by a God-fearing mother, Willie returned to his spiritual roots and wanted his new life to be a testimony of God’s healing and forgiving power.

Willie leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Adele, his daughter Keisha, his grandchildren Abernae and Kaiija, his brothers Reggie and Barron, sisters Cynthia, Yolanda, and Regina, his favorite nephew, Jordan Jefferson senior, great nephew Jordan Jefferson junior and nephew Joshua and niece Stacey Bunch, whom he always kept a special place in his heart for as well as many more.

Join us on Saturday, July 29 at 1 p.m. for a celebration of his life. Read next week’s Islands’ Sounder for details.