Jerry L. Courtney

\"Every day is a blessing!" If you knew Jerry Courtney, you heard him say it. He continued to believe this even after being told he had cancer. Unbelievably, Jerry's last blessed day was August 13, 2014. It seemed like such a relatively short time to us, but the cancer he had was so severe and he fought so hard; that it wore him down too quickly. Jerry Lamar Courtney was born on December 9, 1941, to Lorene and Odie Courtney in Mooringsport, where he lived until he joined the Navy. He was proud to have been among the first crew on the first nuclear powered air craft carrier, the U.S.S. Enterprise and was aboard when it was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Jerry was among the first-hires at Western Electric and worked there as a Supervisor for more than 30 years. He said he was one of the ones to turn off the lights when the plant closed. Jerry said he had two birthdays: his birth date and the one he really loved to celebrate - December 7, 2004. This was the day of his terrible motorcycle accident when he was thought to have been dead, but instead became a living miracle. It was during this time that Jerry truly found the Lord and re-formed his life. He became such a powerful witness and actually delighted in telling about the before-and-after Jerry. He loved to witness and to pray with and for everyone. Those of us who saw all this felt really special because we were witnesses to a miracle of God. Jerry loved to spend time at his camp on Caddo Lake; he also loved riding his Harley. But "back up, back up, back up" - he really loved being with his family and friends. He adored his grandchildren Samantha, Ranger, Paige, Lindsey, and Reagan. Those who love him and will have so many memories and stories to share about this special man are his wife Linda, son Steven Courtney and wife Lorraine, Caryn Pope and husband Jason, grandchildren Samantha Courtney and Ranger Pope, sister Jean Haldren and sister-in-law Gail Courtney, nieces, nephew and countless friends, some that he's known all his life. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Larry. Jerry was so blessed to have found someone to share his faith and his life when he met and married Linda Nottingham Cox. Linda and her daughter Shannon Oswald and husband Chad, son Brian Darnell and granddaughters Paige Moore, Lindsey and Reagan Oswald loved him so much, were so good to him and treated him as their own. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home at 2201 Airline Drive in Bossier City. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, August 15, 2014 at the funeral home. Services will be at Rose-Neath Bossier at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 16, 2014. Officiating will be Rev. Cheryl Nelson, assisted by Rev. Wayne Shoe. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Mooringsport. Honoring Jerry as pallbearers will be Steven Courtney, Jason Pope, Chad Oswald, Brian Darnell, Ralph "Moffett" Greening, Delmon Nottingham, Tommy Greening, Matthew Richardson, George McClain and Dearl Nottingham. Jerry, we borrowed your life as long as we possibly could, but now must sadly let you go to claim your reward. We may not be , but you said so often that you were ready; so with tears for us and happiness for you, we say we love you so much and we'll see you later.