Capt. Thomas E. B. McVay: Obituary

Capt. Thomas E. B. McVay age 89 of Mountain View Drive Blairsville passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday September 10, 2019 following an extended illness. Mr. McVay was born on June 6, 1930 in Yell County Arkansas, the son of the late Henry Lee McVay Sr. and the late Modine Bezzo McVay. One of 5 siblings, he grew up in Dyess, Arkansas with their childhood and life long friend, Johnny Cash.

He was a veteran of the US Air Force of the Korean War. After military discharge at MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida, Thomas worked for St Philips Towing – Maritime Tug Boat company in Tampa, Florida where he was tug boat captain for 30 years; licenced for harbor and Western rivers.

Thomas was a member of Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church, Master Mates and Pilots, Maritime Union, The Emmaus Community, and American Legion. He loved hunting and working with wood crafts.

Thomas was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Madison Dean McVay.

Surviving Mr. McVay are his loving wife and best friend of forty one years, Rev. Victory McVay of Blairsville, five sons and 3 daughters-in-law, William (Janice); Christopher of Blairsville,  Lee (Angela) of Dawsonville, Timothy (Samantha) and  Perry, all of Blairsville, two brothers and one sister-in-law, Henry McVay Jr. of Rockford, IL., Pete and Myrtle McVay of Marrion, AR., one sister, Mary Whyte of Memphis, TN., five grandchildren, Mikala of Salina, Kansas, Mitchell and Megan of Dawsonville, GA, Illeana and Zoe of Blairsville, GA., two great grandchildren, Arty and L.J. of Salina, Kansas, several nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday Septptember 14, 2019 at 4:00 pm from the Mountain View Chapel with Rev. Jim Barker, Rev, Earl Bishop and Rev. Chris Rumsfeldt officiating. Special music will be presented by Pastor Chris Rumfeldt and Thomas’ sons. The following gentleman will serve as pallbearers, sons William Christopher, Lee, and Timothy, grandson, Mitchell and long time friend, Jimmy Wheeler. Interment will follow in the Coosa United Methodist Church Cemetery with the North GA Honor Guard conducting Military Honors. The family will meet with friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 3-4:00 pm.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com