Joanna "Megan" McCoy Neurauter

Joanna “Megan” McCoy Neurauter passed away March 07, 2024 in Phoenix, AZ, at the age of 47.

Born January 25, 1977, during the snow storm of the decade, Megan came into this world as the sweet daughter of Dr. Joseph Hamilton and Beth Perkinson McCoy, and the sister of Jason Scott McCoy, of Abingdon.

Megan is preceded in death by her grandparents, Hobert and Bess Love McCoy and David and Eula Thomas Perkinson; her uncle, Robert “Bob” David Perkinson, and aunt and uncle, Jan and Don Perkinson.  She is survived by her parents, Joe and Beth McCoy, of Abingdon, and her son, Jerome “Jerry” Hamilton Neurauter, of Phoenix, AZ.

Megan was smart, curious about people and the world, and always so easy to talk to about any topic.  She had an adventuresome spirit and a loving heart.  Megan and her Uncle Don had a close relationship.  They had a similar sense of humor and would banter frequently.  She was a light in this world who will be greatly missed.

Megan was an easy child, a good friend to all and an exceptional student. She studied piano with her mother, winning the regional level, Rotary Club-sponsored, Bland Contest in high school. She also studied flute and played in the AHS band where she made lifelong friends. She and Karen McElroy Mason were inseparable throughout high school and college.  She discovered she had a wonderful voice and sang in church choirs and regional theater productions as an adult.  She was considered one of the most reliable teenage ushers the Barter Theatre ever had.

At age seven Megan declared she would major in handwriting.   That became a BA in English from Furman University with a minor in music.  Upon graduation Megan pursued her love of travel by spending seven months in London through the BUNAC program, working for the Amanda Chester Consultancy and spending her last month traveling all across Europe. A favorite locale was Montepulciano, Italy, where she later took her parents on holiday.

Returning from London, she chose Boston as her base, becoming an editor for W. W. Norton, and doing advanced study at Emerson College, where she made lifelong friends.  Her love of theater led her to “Shear Madness” and she quickly rose from usher to house manager.  Boston's snow sent her on a weekend trip to Phoenix and she decided to settle there, becoming an editor for Virgo Press.  She also did advanced study at Martin College in Sydney, Australia, where again she made lifelong friends.

In 2012 Megan married Kurt Neurauter and had their only child, Jerry, born in 2015.  She especially loved camping with Jerry and her Cub Scout mom friends.  She worked for Humana as a Senior Policy Administration Professional.  She loved Crossfit, hiking, spas and brunch with friends.  Jerry adored his mommy, especially when playing board games and painting ceramic art with her.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. in Abingdon United Methodist Church, 101 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA, with the Rev. Paul Seay officiating.  A private committal service will follow at Holston Conference Cemetery.   The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the church. 

Those wishing to make a donation in Megan’s memory may choose: Barter Theatre, P.O. Box 867, Abingdon, VA 24212, or Crossroads Church, 42105 N. 41st Dr. Anthem, AZ 85087.