John died suddenly of a heart attack at home on Monday evening, December 11. He is survived by his wife, Susan Clark Coy; step-daughter, Megan Mashburn; brothers-in-law, Tom Clark (Esther) and Mike Clark (Renee); nieces, Sarah and Jackie Clark; and his mother-in-law, Helen Clark. He is also survived by his English Setter hunting dog (in training!) and much loved companion, Shiner. John was born in Portland, Oregon, to James Coy and Elizabeth Gillen. The family relocated to Bakersfield when John was in grammar school. He attended Golden State Jr. High and was a 1964 graduate of Bakersfield High School, where he and Susan became close friends. While at BHS, John participated in track, football and wrestling. John had great love and respect for the sport of wrestling and was an avid fan and supporter his entire life. John graduated from the University of California at Davis, with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Master's degree in Ecology. With this background and a keen sense of the importance and challenges of preserving and restoring our planet, John pursued his life's work as an environmental consultant for more than 30 years. In 1994, John and Susan were reconnected via the long distance exchange of a recipe for oxtail stew - not your typical romantic overture, but nothing about John Coy was typical. They moved back to Bakersfield and bought a house in their "old" Westchester neighborhood in 1996 and later married. In 1997, John opened the Bakersfield office of the environmental consulting firm, Jones and Stokes, where he was a senior project manager until his untimely death. In the last 2 years, John discovered the majestic beauty of the state of Montana. After a 2 week adventure there in October, he began making plans for he and Susan to move there when he retired. It therefore seemed only fitting that his final resting place be in Montana. The logistics were daunting, but thanks to the organizational efforts of friends, Gary De Armon and John Sarad and the gracious donation by Don Skrable of a burial plot in the family cemetery, what John would have wanted was accomplished. On the morning of December 16, John was interred in the wildlands outside Eureka, Montana, where his spirit is free to continue adventuring. The burial ceremony was performed by some of his closest friends: John Anderson, Tom Clark, Jim Bates, Gary De Armon, Frank Jeppi, Phil Kitchen, Brian Mettler, John Sarad and Don Skrable. Susan would like to express her heartfelt gratitude and love to John's dear friends and to the Skrable family for their generosity of spirit in providing a place of peace and serenity for John in Montana. A Memorial Celebration of John's Life will be held on Saturday, February 3rd, at Wool Growers Basque Restaurant, 620 E. 19th Street, Bakersfield. Cocktail Reception at 5:30 pm; Dinner at 6:30 pm. For more information, you may contact Susan at 634-9228. John Gillen Coy July 23, 1946 - Dec. 11, 2006