Charles “Coy” Sharp, 86, of Bargersville, IN passed away Friday, January 12, 2024 after a couple of days stay at Compass Park with hospice care in Franklin, IN.  Coy was born May 24, 1937 in Liberty, Kentucky to Milford and Beatrice (Smither) Sharp.

Coy, the oldest of six boys, came to Franklin, IN in 1955 to work at Arvin’s Automotive.  He was determined to make a better life for himself and his family.

On his 21st birthday, May 24, 1958, Coy married the love of his life, Elvadene Cochran in Liberty, Kentucky; she preceded him in death on March 23, 2016.  They were married for 58 years until her passing.

Coy was quite the avid hunter and fisherman.  He had the nickname of “Running Gun”, and yes, there is a long story behind that one.  Coy often put together hunting and fishing competitions with the loser having to roll a peanut down a gravel road with their nose.  He liked to make things interesting and loved to accept difficult challenges.  He enjoyed teaching people how to hunt and fish.  He loved to take others to his favorite place called “heart break hill”.  He could fly straight up that steep hill, then tease and laugh at the much younger guy’s struggling to climb up.  He also loved making others laugh.  His coworkers never knew what might appear in their lockers or on their desks.  His fellow hunters can tell of his many pranks he pulled out in the woods.  They would shake their heads when walking up to find him eating Pork-n-Beans and drinking Pepsi that he had hid in the woods.

Coy’s greatest joy came from spending time with his family.  A natural storyteller, Coy loved telling “whopper of stories” and scary stories to his kids, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  He was an avid reader and writer.  Coy was a man of many hobbies and loved to entertain.  In his later years along with his friend Morris, he would carve objects and make walking sticks.  He was also known for all the mushroom pins he would carve and give away.

Coy loved his Pepsi and Kentucky Wildcats basketball.  During any hospital stay, he insisted on wearing his Kentucky hats just to hackle with his doctors and nurses.  His Golden Corral friends called him Kentucky.  He definitely enjoyed life.

Coy is survived by his daughter Angie Parmer (Doug Andrews) of Franklin, IN, his daughter-in-law Patty McNabb (Todd) of Franklin, IN, three brothers Marshall Sharp (Bonnie) of Idaho, Carlos Ray Sharp (Wanda) of Franklin, IN and Kenneth Sharp (Joyce) of Bethelridge, Kentucky, grandchildren Andy Arnold (Emily), Abby Pittman (Jordan), Lauryn Parker (Zach), great grandchildren Zeke and Holden Pittman, Claire and Rowen Arnold, Cohen Duke and Atlas Parker, a special friend Nobie Lile and many adored nieces and nephews. 

Coy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Elvadene (Cochran) Sharp, his son Barry Sharp, his granddaughter Ciara Sharp Duke, brothers Gerald Sharp, Carlon Sharp, sister-in-laws Dixie Sharp, Mary Grider, Shirley Wyatt, Wonetta Burns, Maxine Bell, brother-in-laws Andrew Cochran and Charles Cochran.

Visitation for Coy will be Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 2PM until 7PM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN where a service will take place at 7PM and will be live-streamed at www.swartzmortuary.com. 

On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, a visitation will be held at Brush Creek Christian Church, 3901 Lower Brush Creek Road in Liberty, Kentucky from 1PM until 3PM with a service being conducted at 3PM. 

Burial will follow the service on Wednesday at Brush Creek Cemetery in Liberty, Kentucky.

Coy requested in lieu of flowers, he would want you to pay off a student’s overdue lunch account, the Jimmy Waters Memorial Fund (provides sports equipment for kids that cannot afford it) at P.O. Box 256, Bargersville, IN 46106 or donate a book to a school.

Local obituary courtesy of McKinney-Brown Funeral Home.