John William Courtney, Sr.

John William Courtney, Sr.

SANTA FE - John William Courtney Sr., age 75, of Santa Fe, Texas passed away after a courageous battle with Cancer on Thursday, July 6th, surrounded by family.

John was born in Waynesboro, Virginia, July 18, 1941 to William Henry Courtney and Maryree Margaret (Swertzel) Courtney. John was one of five siblings. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1958 where he saw service in the Atlantic Fleet until 1964 when he was honorably discharged. That same year he went to work for Amoco Chemicals in New Castle, Delaware. In 1976, he entered the Army National Guard where he served for two years. He graduated from Goldey Beacom College in New Castle, with an AAS in Business Management in 1977. In 1978, he joined the Amoco Fire Department which set the stage for a later chapter in his life of public service. After being transferred to Texas in 1981, Amoco sent him to EMT school which he did in addition to firefighting. He joined Santa Fe EMS where he volunteered in his spare time and eventually rose to the position of President. While President, he spearheaded the transition of the EMS service from a Basic Life Support to an Advanced Life Support service, the purchase of new, modern ambulances and equipment, the remodel of the EMS station on Main St., and the eventual hiring of Paramedics. In 1986, he attended police academy and worked as a reserve and regular police officer on his days off and full time after he retired from Amoco in 1995 as Process Technician. He served at the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Pct. 3 Constable Office, Chief Deputy at Pct. 8 Constable Office, Bayou Vista P.D. as an Asst. Chief, and finally was Santa Fe’s first City Marshall. He retired, for the second time, from law enforcement in 2005. Not being able to sit still for long, he managed apartments until just before he passed. In the spare time he had, he loved to fish and travel with his wife, Linda.

John is preceded in death by his parents, William and Marie; sister’s, Dee Cadea, Voila Loida, Julia Ann Shiflett, and daughter, Terri Lynn.

He is survived by his loving wife, Linda of 29 years; children, Debbie Marie, Richard, John Jr., Tommy, and Kristi Lee; brother, James; mother-in-law, Mickey; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, 10412 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX (409) 925-3501.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in the chapel of Hayes Funeral Home, with Pastor David Frisbey officiating.

A reception will be held following the services at First Baptist Church of Algoa, 18006 Orange St, Algoa. 

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