John Allan Mccormick

John Allan McCormick died unexpectedly of a heart condition on September 7th, 2019 while guiding friends down his beloved Ocoee River. He was 58 years old.

John was born December 20, 1960 in Charlotte, North Carolina to Earl Monroe McCormick and Peggy Claire (Rosser) McCormick. He attended Page High School and was the starting center for their state-championship basketball squad in 1979. He was also a state champion swimmer and swam competitively for Appalachian State University

John successfully pursued several early career interests including management, radio, and swim coaching. Yet he found his calling on the Ocoee River as a whitewater guide in 2002. “Big John” was supremely skilled and thoroughly entertaining on the water. His booming voice (“We be raftin’!”), quick wit, river knowledge, and larger-than-life personality brought joy to thousands that braved the rapids with him.

Off the river, John resided simply and on his own terms in Polk County, Tennessee. In his free time, he enjoyed playing guitar, writing music, canoeing, hiking, gardening, and swimming.

John is survived by his father, brother Michael Monroe McCormick, brother-in-law Clifton Lee Hawhee, niece Nancy Alexandra Young, and nephews James Monroe Hawhee, Alexander West McCormick and Christopher Michael McCormick. He was preceded in death by his mother and sister, Penny McCormick Hawhee. John is also loved and missed by his extended Ocoee River family.

The family would like to thank John’s community for the calls, time, visits and tributes during this time of celebration and reflection on John’s life.

A memorial service will be held for family and friends at Sugarloaf Mountain Park in Benton, TN @ 7:00 PM on September 28th, 2019.

Should friends desire, and to remember John’s love of the outdoors, memorial contributions may be sent to The Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/giving/commemorative-gifts