William Vern "Bill" Courtney passed away shortly after midnight Friday, June 8, 2018, at his daughter's home in Los Angeles. He was born in Troy, Ore., on Oct. 16, 1923. His younger years were spent there or on Grouse Flats, along with his parents, Mick and Ada Courtney, and his four siblings, Glen, Gale, Neva and Bob.
During summers, he and brother Bob took the family's 30 to 40 head of sheep to mountain pasture, and later Bill worked for uncles or neighbors. Bill and Bob spent two years in Troy, supposedly getting credit for ninth and 10th grades of high school, which later were not accepted, so they started over in Lostine, Ore.
Mick and Ada moved to Clarkston in 1942, so the boys transferred and began their junior year at Clarkston High School. During the school year, Bill worked at Smith's Garage and drove school bus to Peola and Silcott morning and night.
In 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy, where he was taken to Kodiak, Alaska, for a year and a half. While there, he received news that an older brother, Gale, who was drafted into the U.S. Army earlier, had been killed in Germany. Bill was discharged in June 1946 and took the GED exam, thus "graduating" with the class of '46.
Bill worked in a box factory, then on a survey crew for the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), before becoming deputy sheriff for Hugh Curry in Asotin County for a year.
He married Terri Brown in 1947. Bill held many jobs to support his family while attending Northern Idaho College of Education, including a delivery job at Lewiston Refrigeration, being a cab driver, tending bar and flipping burgers at Hogan's and the Round Up, and delivering the Sunday paper to Headquarters and places on the way for five years.
Two major events occurred. His daughter, Debra Gail, was born Sept. 26, 1949, and the Normal School closed when he was in his third year. He began a five-year period of selling life insurance and also became a civic leader in his community, joining the Moose, Lions and Elks, along with being president of the JayCees and becoming a city council member. Eventually, he bought a Farmers Insurance Agency and became mayor of Clarkston. He and Terri divorced after 13 years of marriage.
Not long after, Bill met and married Evelyn Greene, who was beginning her first teaching job. Son Chad was born Nov. 8, 1962, followed by daughter Stacy on Oct. 16, 1964, Bill's birthday. Evelyn's parents, Harlan and Vera Greene, owned a ranch on the Grouse Bench, where many holidays and weekends were enjoyed while the children were young. Debra would travel from Sacramento to spend summers.
Bill got a real estate license, sold his insurance agency and began working for Valley Bank in public relations. His promotional idea to take ice-cold beverages to the fields as farmers quit for the day resulted in Bill's beer wagon, which was a great hit. Bill eventually found a job that was closer to his roots as Washington state brand inspector, which he held until he retired.
Early on, he liked to hunt, ride for cattle, help out a friend on branding day or play golf. Later, camping became a favorite pastime. He built many campfires along the Grande Ronde, at Wallowa Lake, Lake Pend Oreille or in the mountains during huckleberry-picking excursions. Bill always enjoyed growing a vegetable garden each year and sharing produce from it.
Bill's traveling was in the form of visiting his children, whether in Hope, Idaho; New York; Australia; Los Angeles; or Miami.
Sadly, Evelyn and Bill's son, Chad, passed on Dec. 30, 2002.
Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn; two daughters, Debra Courtney (Jeff Pennick) of Hope, and Stacy Courtney (JC Robaina) of Los Angeles; brother Bob of Clarkston; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A covered-dish dinner is planned for Bill's celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 at the Asotin City Park.
Bill's traveling was in the form of visiting his children, whether in Hope, Idaho; New York; Australia; Los Angeles; or Miami.
Sadly, Evelyn and Bill's son, Chad, passed on Dec. 30, 2002.
Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn; two daughters, Debra Courtney (Jeff Pennick) of Hope, and Stacy Courtney (JC Robaina) of Los Angeles; brother Bob of Clarkston; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A covered-dish dinner is planned for Bill's celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 at the Asotin City Park.
During summers, he and brother Bob took the family's 30 to 40 head of sheep to mountain pasture, and later Bill worked for uncles or neighbors. Bill and Bob spent two years in Troy, supposedly getting credit for ninth and 10th grades of high school, which later were not accepted, so they started over in Lostine, Ore.
Mick and Ada moved to Clarkston in 1942, so the boys transferred and began their junior year at Clarkston High School. During the school year, Bill worked at Smith's Garage and drove school bus to Peola and Silcott morning and night.
In 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy, where he was taken to Kodiak, Alaska, for a year and a half. While there, he received news that an older brother, Gale, who was drafted into the U.S. Army earlier, had been killed in Germany. Bill was discharged in June 1946 and took the GED exam, thus "graduating" with the class of '46.
Bill worked in a box factory, then on a survey crew for the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), before becoming deputy sheriff for Hugh Curry in Asotin County for a year.
He married Terri Brown in 1947. Bill held many jobs to support his family while attending Northern Idaho College of Education, including a delivery job at Lewiston Refrigeration, being a cab driver, tending bar and flipping burgers at Hogan's and the Round Up, and delivering the Sunday paper to Headquarters and places on the way for five years.
Two major events occurred. His daughter, Debra Gail, was born Sept. 26, 1949, and the Normal School closed when he was in his third year. He began a five-year period of selling life insurance and also became a civic leader in his community, joining the Moose, Lions and Elks, along with being president of the JayCees and becoming a city council member. Eventually, he bought a Farmers Insurance Agency and became mayor of Clarkston. He and Terri divorced after 13 years of marriage.
Not long after, Bill met and married Evelyn Greene, who was beginning her first teaching job. Son Chad was born Nov. 8, 1962, followed by daughter Stacy on Oct. 16, 1964, Bill's birthday. Evelyn's parents, Harlan and Vera Greene, owned a ranch on the Grouse Bench, where many holidays and weekends were enjoyed while the children were young. Debra would travel from Sacramento to spend summers.
Bill got a real estate license, sold his insurance agency and began working for Valley Bank in public relations. His promotional idea to take ice-cold beverages to the fields as farmers quit for the day resulted in Bill's beer wagon, which was a great hit. Bill eventually found a job that was closer to his roots as Washington state brand inspector, which he held until he retired.
Early on, he liked to hunt, ride for cattle, help out a friend on branding day or play golf. Later, camping became a favorite pastime. He built many campfires along the Grande Ronde, at Wallowa Lake, Lake Pend Oreille or in the mountains during huckleberry-picking excursions. Bill always enjoyed growing a vegetable garden each year and sharing produce from it.
Bill's traveling was in the form of visiting his children, whether in Hope, Idaho; New York; Australia; Los Angeles; or Miami.
Sadly, Evelyn and Bill's son, Chad, passed on Dec. 30, 2002.
Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn; two daughters, Debra Courtney (Jeff Pennick) of Hope, and Stacy Courtney (JC Robaina) of Los Angeles; brother Bob of Clarkston; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A covered-dish dinner is planned for Bill's celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 at the Asotin City Park.
Bill's traveling was in the form of visiting his children, whether in Hope, Idaho; New York; Australia; Los Angeles; or Miami.
Sadly, Evelyn and Bill's son, Chad, passed on Dec. 30, 2002.
Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn; two daughters, Debra Courtney (Jeff Pennick) of Hope, and Stacy Courtney (JC Robaina) of Los Angeles; brother Bob of Clarkston; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A covered-dish dinner is planned for Bill's celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 at the Asotin City Park.
William Vern "Bill" Courtney passed away shortly after midnight Friday, June 8, 2018, at his daughter's home in Los Angeles. He was born in Troy, Ore., on Oct. 16, 1923. His younger years were spent there or on Grouse Flats, along with his parents, Mick and Ada Courtney, and his four siblings, Glen, Gale, Neva and Bob.
During summers, he and brother Bob took the family's 30 to 40 head of sheep to mountain pasture, and later Bill worked for uncles or neighbors. Bill and Bob spent two years in Troy, supposedly getting credit for ninth and 10th grades of high school, which later were not accepted, so they started over in Lostine, Ore.
Mick and Ada moved to Clarkston in 1942, so the boys transferred and began their junior year at Clarkston High School. During the school year, Bill worked at Smith's Garage and drove school bus to Peola and Silcott morning and night.
In 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy, where he was taken to Kodiak, Alaska, for a year and a half. While there, he received news that an older brother, Gale, who was drafted into the U.S. Army earlier, had been killed in Germany. Bill was discharged in June 1946 and took the GED exam, thus "graduating" with the class of '46.
Bill worked in a box factory, then on a survey crew for the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), before becoming deputy sheriff for Hugh Curry in Asotin County for a year.
He married Terri Brown in 1947. Bill held many jobs to support his family while attending Northern Idaho College of Education, including a delivery job at Lewiston Refrigeration, being a cab driver, tending bar and flipping burgers at Hogan's and the Round Up, and delivering the Sunday paper to Headquarters and places on the way for five years.
Two major events occurred. His daughter, Debra Gail, was born Sept. 26, 1949, and the Normal School closed when he was in his third year. He began a five-year period of selling life insurance and also became a civic leader in his community, joining the Moose, Lions and Elks, along with being president of the JayCees and becoming a city council member. Eventually, he bought a Farmers Insurance Agency and became mayor of Clarkston. He and Terri divorced after 13 years of marriage.
Not long after, Bill met and married Evelyn Greene, who was beginning her first teaching job. Son Chad was born Nov. 8, 1962, followed by daughter Stacy on Oct. 16, 1964, Bill's birthday. Evelyn's parents, Harlan and Vera Greene, owned a ranch on the Grouse Bench, where many holidays and weekends were enjoyed while the children were young. Debra would travel from Sacramento to spend summers.
Bill got a real estate license, sold his insurance agency and began working for Valley Bank in public relations. His promotional idea to take ice-cold beverages to the fields as farmers quit for the day resulted in Bill's beer wagon, which was a great hit. Bill eventually found a job that was closer to his roots as Washington state brand inspector, which he held until he retired.
Early on, he liked to hunt, ride for cattle, help out a friend on branding day or play golf. Later, camping became a favorite pastime. He built many campfires along the Grande Ronde, at Wallowa Lake, Lake Pend Oreille or in the mountains during huckleberry-picking excursions. Bill always enjoyed growing a vegetable garden each year and sharing produce from it.
Bill's traveling was in the form of visiting his children, whether in Hope, Idaho; New York; Australia; Los Angeles; or Miami.
Sadly, Evelyn and Bill's son, Chad, passed on Dec. 30, 2002.
Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn; two daughters, Debra Courtney (Jeff Pennick) of Hope, and Stacy Courtney (JC Robaina) of Los Angeles; brother Bob of Clarkston; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A covered-dish dinner is planned for Bill's celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 at the Asotin City Park.
Bill's traveling was in the form of visiting his children, whether in Hope, Idaho; New York; Australia; Los Angeles; or Miami.
Sadly, Evelyn and Bill's son, Chad, passed on Dec. 30, 2002.
Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn; two daughters, Debra Courtney (Jeff Pennick) of Hope, and Stacy Courtney (JC Robaina) of Los Angeles; brother Bob of Clarkston; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A covered-dish dinner is planned for Bill's celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 at the Asotin City Park.
During summers, he and brother Bob took the family's 30 to 40 head of sheep to mountain pasture, and later Bill worked for uncles or neighbors. Bill and Bob spent two years in Troy, supposedly getting credit for ninth and 10th grades of high school, which later were not accepted, so they started over in Lostine, Ore.
Mick and Ada moved to Clarkston in 1942, so the boys transferred and began their junior year at Clarkston High School. During the school year, Bill worked at Smith's Garage and drove school bus to Peola and Silcott morning and night.
In 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy, where he was taken to Kodiak, Alaska, for a year and a half. While there, he received news that an older brother, Gale, who was drafted into the U.S. Army earlier, had been killed in Germany. Bill was discharged in June 1946 and took the GED exam, thus "graduating" with the class of '46.
Bill worked in a box factory, then on a survey crew for the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), before becoming deputy sheriff for Hugh Curry in Asotin County for a year.
He married Terri Brown in 1947. Bill held many jobs to support his family while attending Northern Idaho College of Education, including a delivery job at Lewiston Refrigeration, being a cab driver, tending bar and flipping burgers at Hogan's and the Round Up, and delivering the Sunday paper to Headquarters and places on the way for five years.
Two major events occurred. His daughter, Debra Gail, was born Sept. 26, 1949, and the Normal School closed when he was in his third year. He began a five-year period of selling life insurance and also became a civic leader in his community, joining the Moose, Lions and Elks, along with being president of the JayCees and becoming a city council member. Eventually, he bought a Farmers Insurance Agency and became mayor of Clarkston. He and Terri divorced after 13 years of marriage.
Not long after, Bill met and married Evelyn Greene, who was beginning her first teaching job. Son Chad was born Nov. 8, 1962, followed by daughter Stacy on Oct. 16, 1964, Bill's birthday. Evelyn's parents, Harlan and Vera Greene, owned a ranch on the Grouse Bench, where many holidays and weekends were enjoyed while the children were young. Debra would travel from Sacramento to spend summers.
Bill got a real estate license, sold his insurance agency and began working for Valley Bank in public relations. His promotional idea to take ice-cold beverages to the fields as farmers quit for the day resulted in Bill's beer wagon, which was a great hit. Bill eventually found a job that was closer to his roots as Washington state brand inspector, which he held until he retired.
Early on, he liked to hunt, ride for cattle, help out a friend on branding day or play golf. Later, camping became a favorite pastime. He built many campfires along the Grande Ronde, at Wallowa Lake, Lake Pend Oreille or in the mountains during huckleberry-picking excursions. Bill always enjoyed growing a vegetable garden each year and sharing produce from it.
Bill's traveling was in the form of visiting his children, whether in Hope, Idaho; New York; Australia; Los Angeles; or Miami.
Sadly, Evelyn and Bill's son, Chad, passed on Dec. 30, 2002.
Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn; two daughters, Debra Courtney (Jeff Pennick) of Hope, and Stacy Courtney (JC Robaina) of Los Angeles; brother Bob of Clarkston; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A covered-dish dinner is planned for Bill's celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 at the Asotin City Park.
Bill's traveling was in the form of visiting his children, whether in Hope, Idaho; New York; Australia; Los Angeles; or Miami.
Sadly, Evelyn and Bill's son, Chad, passed on Dec. 30, 2002.
Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn; two daughters, Debra Courtney (Jeff Pennick) of Hope, and Stacy Courtney (JC Robaina) of Los Angeles; brother Bob of Clarkston; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A covered-dish dinner is planned for Bill's celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 at the Asotin City Park.
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