Long time Tanglewood Property Owner, Don Courtney passed away July 2, 2016. Don and Yvonne were co-owners of Happy Shack along with Waymon and Regena Harrison. Our thoughts and prayers are with Yvonne and his family. A memorial contribution will be made to Custer County Clinic in his honor.
The following appeared in the El Reno Tribune:
Funeral services for Don R. Courtney will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 7 in the Benson Memorial Chapel with Rev. Charlie Blount of First Baptist Church officiating. The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, July 6 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Benson Memorial Chapel. Services are under direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.
Mr. Courtney died July 2, 2016, at his home in El Reno. He was born July 10, 1934, in El Reno. Don was a farmer and rancher and a lifelong resident of El Reno. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Elks Lodge, Sons of Confederate Veterans and Military Order of the Stars and Bars.
He served as president of the Oklahoma Farmers Union, the Democratic Committee of Canadian County and the American Agriculture Movement which he helped organize. He also served on several boards including the Metropolitan Planning Commission, Maple School Board and Heaston Rural Water Board. Don was a Red Cross volunteer serving as an instructor and member of the Calamity Janes, participant of the 1979 Washington D.C. Tractorcade and pilot and owner of a Cessna 175.
On July 30, 1952, Don married Yvonne Novak at the Heaston Church. Yvonne survives him.
He is also survived by their children, Kathryn Loyall and husband, Larry of Yukon, Karoyl Hyde and husband, Chuck of El Reno and Dennis Courtney and wife, Machelle of El Reno; sister, Regena Harrison of Moore; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Steffani and Cory Jump, Amanda and Ryan Dobbs, Courtney and Justin Roles, Christa and Lance Rushing, Trey and McKenzie Hyde, Debbie Courtney and Stanley Symes and Darce and Dusty Haley; nine great-grandchildren, Cameron Jump, Carly Jump, Riley Dobbs, Drake Dobbs, Cooper Roles, Dane Roles, Colson Rushing, Chyler Rushing and Mia Martinez.
His parents, Reginald and Lucille Olander Courtney, and a sister, Corine Courtney Smith preceded him in death.
The family suggests memorials to Mobile Meals of El Reno, P.O. Box 879, El Reno, Okla. 73036, and Russell-Murray Hospice, 221 S. Bickford, El Reno, Okla. 73036.