Stephen Bradley “Brad” McCoy was born on March 19, 1978 in Hiawassee, Georgia. He grew up in Marble, North Carolina riding dirt bikes, hunting, fishing, swimming, and water skiing. Brad went to Andrews High School, where he held school records in both football and weightlifting. Although Brad did not graduate, in 2005 he received his GED with his family standing by his side.

Brad married Amanda in July 2002. Their daughter, Daphne, was born in 2005, their son, Cole, in 2008. In 2010, the family moved from Marble to Nantahala, where Brad joined the Nantahala Volunteer Fire Department and became an active member. Brad wanted to be able to help people in need and have the training to do what was best for those involved.

For the last few months of Brad’s life he worked at Con Met, assembling dashboards for Peterbilt and Freightliner trucks. Before that he worked for Bateman Trucking and for MIS. No matter what job Brad McCoy had, he always gave 110%. Brad believed in working hard and getting the job done right.
Brad was a Christian who was saved early in his life and loved the Lord. An active member of Briartown Baptist Church, he taught several Wednesday night services and helped with Vacation Bible School every year. Brad loved to learn about God and tell others what God was doing for him and could do for them. Brad would pray on the spot with anyone that asked and give them scriptures to help them through.

Brad is survived by his wife and children; his loving father, Steve McCoy; his mother, Kay McConnell; and his brother, Brian McCoy. He is also survived by his parents-in-law, Raymond and Melissa Evans; his sister and brother-in-law, Megan and Adam Mclean; his nieces and nephew, Destiney, Delaney and Dillon Mclean; his best friends, Michael and Sabrina Taylor, and their daughter, Nahayla.

On November 21, 2014, Brad and Amanda awoke to their home engulfed in flames. Brad saved his daughter, then returned to save his wife and son, not realizing they had escaped through a window in the back of the house. Brad died searching for them.

Brad McCoy was an amazing man–loving and kind, everyone’s friend, a bright and shining star in the middle of a dark world. Brad loved to laugh and to make other people laugh. He would go without things or drop whatever he was doing in order to help someone. A wonderful father, he took his children camping and fishing and taught them to enjoy life and be good to others. Brad was a loving husband who took care of his wife and showed her his love every day. Brad was a faithful friend and a caring son.

Brad McCoy is and always will be our Hero.