Malcolm L. (Butch) Coon Jr. was born in Cortland, NY on April 26, 1949 to the late Malcolm L. and B. Arlene (Jeffery) Coon. Butch passed away unexpectedly on December 29, 2025 at UPMC Hamot, Erie, PA surrounded by his loving family.

He graduated from Dryden High School in 1968 where he received the A.T. Lormar award for industrial arts, worked on the senior yearbook and lettered in Football and Track. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In 1972, Butch married his high school sweetheart, Sheila Sullivan. He completed three deployments to Vietnam. The third was as a U.S Navy Advisor to Chau Doc where he was assigned after successfully learning to speak Vietnamese and completing S.E.R.E. training. Butch traveled the world aboard the USS Clarke County, USS Navasota, USS Peoria and his last deployment was aboard the USS Nimitz on its “maiden cruise” to the Mediterranean. He was a devoted patriot who took great pride in serving his country. Butch’s commitment to others continued beyond the US Navy. In 1975, while on Navy Recruiter duty in Gouverneur, NY, he volunteered as a firefighter and Basic EMT with the Gouverneur fire department. Upon leaving the Navy in 1977 he became an Advanced EMT. In 1987 he graduated from the SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse as the first Certified Paramedic in Tompkins County, NY. During his twenty-year career as a first responder, he became a Supervisor at Eastern Ambulance in Syracuse, Hayes Ambulance Company in Cortland and Cortland Memorial Hospital ER all while dedicating his free time to the Groton Volunteer Fire Department as a Medic, Fire Chief and firefighter. In 1997 he joined Sam’s Club in Big Flats and Erie as a dock supervisor and retired in 2011. While retired he devoted time to family, neighbors and his Vietnam brothers of the Erie VVA Chapter 435. His service as a color guard member continued in many ways including the annual Watch Fire event on the shores of Lake Erie, attendance at local veteran funerals and marching in the Independence Day and Veterans Day parades.

Butch could strike up a conversation with anyone who crossed his path. He made a point to welcome home every Vietnam veteran he encountered and took pride in thanking servicemen and women for their many sacrifices for this country. He also selflessly endured Erie winters to ensure his neighbors could return home to clear driveways, faithfully relying on his trusty snowblower.

Family was the center of Butch’s universe. He was preceded in death by his loving parents; his brother, Timothy J. Coon; aunt, Carina Emerson; brothers-in-law Clifford Wallace and Blair Sullivan; sister-in-law Maureen Maus; and nieces Heather Sullivan and Theresa Wallace. He is survived by his loving wife Sheila and their four children; Carey (Stephen) Aderhold, Jeffery (Amanda) Coon, Jaclyn (Ryan) Fuller, Bethany (Michael) Reilly along with their five grandchildren; Sean, Elyse, Bailey, Ella and Harper… who cherish his memory. Butch is also survived by his loving sister; Janette Wallace, many cousins including; Teri Lynn and Jeff Evener, Scott Marlette; as well as six sisters-and-brothers-in law; and twenty-seven nieces and nephews.

Friends and family will be received at Perkins Funeral Home, 55 W. Main St. Dryden, NY on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. until the time of a Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. conducted by Rev. John Gagnier of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Burial will take place immediately after at McLean Cemetery, McLean, NY. Rev. Gagnier will lead the Committal Service that will include pipes and full military honors presented by the Groton American Legion Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Groton American Legion Post 800, 307 Main St, Groton, NY 13073.