Joseph Weldon Courtney passed away peacefully April 9th, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma surrounded by his 3 children.
He was born November 1st, 1945, to Joseph Jennings Courtney, and Jessie Melba (Fowler) Courtney. The family was living in Illinois where his father’s work as a Chemical Engineer with the Manhattan project supported the earliest stages of nuclear fission research, including the first sustained nuclear chain reaction at the University of Chicago. His father’s later focus was on plutonium production, directly assisting in the development of the plutonium for the second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki Japan in August 1945, which effectively ended World War II. After the war, the family relocated to the Hanford, Washington area where Joe and his siblings grew up.
Joe graduated college from California Polytechnic State University in San Louis Obispo California in 1967 with a B.S. in Business Administration. Joe then volunteered for the draft, completing OCS and receiving his officers commission in 1968. He served with the Army Corps of Engineers in the Republic of Vietnam from 1969-70 and earned an Army Commendation and a Bronze Star for meritorious service.
After his service, Joe moved back to Washington state where he was a purchasing agent with a local logging company. He relocated to Oklahoma in 1981, returning to the state where he had spent summers working on his grandparent’s farm in Southwest Kiowa County. Joe raised a family with Vera Alexander nee Caswell in Altus and built a career in city government and private business administration, serving at various points as the City Administrator of Altus, the President of OK-1 & Altus Athletic, and the VP of Quartz Mountain Aerospace.
Joe taught his children and those around him to lead with kindness. He inspired people around him with a thoughtful approach to life’s problems and people loved him for that. He had an incredible sense of humor and a humbling intelligence. He loved to run, golf, camp, fish, shoot, read, and enjoyed nothing more than getting his kids together to watch a movie or football game.
After a life and career filled with battles in jungles, city halls and boardrooms, Joe’s retirement days were peaceful. He spent much of his time with his family, traveling the US in his old truck, and many years with his beloved dog Grace by his side. Though he fought prostate cancer and its effects for the better part of the last 20 years, he was always more concerned with his children’s wellbeing and those around him, than his own. Joe was immensely proud of his family and their legacy of service in both the private and public sectors. His sharp wit, unyielding loyalty, and loving soul will be missed greatly.
Joe is survived by: his children Dr. Summer Rose Heatly and husband Chad Kerrigan of Oklahoma City, OK; Adam Courtney and wife Stephanie of Norman, OK; Samantha McAfee and husband Kyle of Catoosa, OK; his sister Karen Lane of Rocklin, CA; his brother Matt Courtney and wife Kathy of Roosevelt, OK; his grandchildren: Pearl, Wyman, Evelyn, and Emersyn. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The Courtney family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday April 13, 2024 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Roosevelt Cemetery, Roosevelt, Oklahoma.
Services have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
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Previous Events
Viewing
13
Apr
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus, OK 73521
Graveside
14
Apr
Roosevelt
Roosevelt, OK 73564
