Helen Dorothy McCoy

After 104 years, 9 months and 14 days, the good Lord called Helen Dorothy McCoy home. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, J. Joseph McCoy, M.D. and a daughter, Sharon Marie McCoy. Helen McCoy of Summerville, South Carolina, formerly Charleston, South Carolina, died in her sleep, very peacefully and surrounded by her family.

She was the daughter of Charles and Jenny Ruetiman and sister to Charles A. Ruetiman, Jr., affectionately known as Bub.Helen was a Registered Nurse and retired from St. Francis Hospital, while still located at the corner of Rutledge Avenue and Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston. She was also a member of Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran Church on Bees Ferry Road.

Mother was an athlete, in her own right and loved the outdoors. She was an accomplished fly fisherman (dry fly, only!), as well as a crack shot at shooting skeet. She spent many a day in the pool at The St. Andrews Recreation Center in West Ashley participating in water aerobics classes and swimming. She also enjoyed swimming in the ocean at Folly Beach. She loved reading and never met a crossword puzzle that she did not like. And you did not want to play her in a game of Scrabble.

She loved watching sports on television, particularly the LA Dodgers World Champion baseball team, golf and tennis. But her true love was Citadel sports, especially Football. She was a mainstay figure on the 4th floor Club Level at all home football games. Cheering on her Bulldogs with a rum and coke in hand. She loved being the oldest member of The Brigadier Club.

Mother and her family will be forever grateful to her son James and wife JoAnn for opening up their home for her to live out the senior years of her life. A true blessing. She is survived by her children James J. McCoy, M.D (JoAnn) Summerville, SC, Susan M. Black (Chris) Lenoir, NC, Peter M. McCoy, Sr. (Lucy) Hartsville, SC, 11 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

A Public Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2021 from 2:00pm-4:00pm at McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation - West Ashley, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, 843-722-8371.

The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 12:00pm from the Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3075 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29414. The service will be livestreamed from the church's website: www.holyspiritcharleston.org under the "Worship" drop down menu.

Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on James Island.

The family respectfully wants to encourage you to wear a mask and practice social distancing at both the visitation and the funeral service. Thank-you