Gene Loyd Courtney, 89, of Graham, passed away Monday, January 22, 2024 at his home after a prolonged battle with heart and renal issues.
The Muhlenberg County native was a longtime member of Yeargins Chapel Methodist Church and had retired from Texas Gas Transmission Corporation in 1990. During his life he worked in multiple positions of increasing responsibility in various oil and gas businesses. Gene played junior and high school basketball for the Nighthawks of Graham, KY (1948-1953) and was a lifelong fan of UK basketball. Gene and his wife loved to travel extensively and were able to visit all 50 states during their life together. Regardless of their travel, Gene always proudly proclaimed Kentucky as the best place in the world to live, and in 2005 was designated a Kentucky Colonel by then Governor Ernie Fletcher for unwavering devotion to faith, family, the Kentucky Commonwealth, and to our nation.
He was preceded in death by his parents Paul B. Courtney and Mary E. Courtney, a great grandson Caleb Monroe, and a brother-in-law Jake Heugel
Survivors include his wife of nearly 70 years, Zula Ann (Coleman) Courtney; two sons LTC (Ret.) Edwin L. Courtney of Mt. Juliet, Tenn. and Rondall L. Courtney of Princeton; six granddaughters and one “adopted in spirit” granddaughter; six great granddaughters, and two great grandsons; a sister Hilda Sue Heugel of Pflugerville, Texas; niece Judy Gale Heugel, and nephew David B. Heugel, both of Pflugerville, Texas.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 26 at 11:00 a.m. at Yeargins Chapel Methodist Church with Bro. Dave Fullen and Bro. Harold Coomer (of Decatur, Ala.) jointly officiating. Visitation will be conducted Thursday, January 25 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Gary’s Funeral Home in Greenville and from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 26 at Yeargins Chapel Methodist Church in Graham. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Yeargins Chapel Cemetery Fund or the Gideons International Organization.
