THOMAS EDWARD McCOURT

 

 CLASS OF 1955

JANUARY 17, 1937 – AUGUST 31, 2011

Thomas E. McCourt, 74, Osawatomie, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, in Kansas City Hospice House.

The son of David and Marie Higgins McCourt, he was born Jan. 17, 1937, in Atchison, Kan. The family lived in Atchison until moving to Osawatomie in 1952 where he graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1955. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University.

While at Pittsburg, he met Shirley Ratledge, also a student at PSU, and they were married Aug. 9, 1953, in Pittsburg. They became the parents of two children.

After Mrs. McCourt graduated in 1964, they moved to California where they lived in Orange County from 1964 to 1973. They later lived in Apple Valley, Calif., until moving to Osawatomie in 2005.

Mr. McCourt went on to earn a master’s degree in recreation and administration from Los Angeles University. He worked in parks and recreation for a number of years and then served as administrator of the San Bernardino, Calif., Fair organization for about 10 years.

He served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1959, serving part of that time in Iceland. He was honorably discharged as an airman second class.

Mr. Court was a member of the Light House Presbyterian Church of Paola.

He loved all sports, but especially baseball and golf. He had been a member of many professional organizations and was active in civic activities of the communities where the family resided.

Survivors include his wife Shirley McCourt of the home; his son Mark McCourt of California; his daughter Marnie Mareth of Bloomfield, N.J.; his mother Marie McCourt Beach of Osawatomie; and two brothers, Jim McCourt of Garnett and Larry McCourt of Lane.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Light House Presbyterian Church of Paola.

Memorials made be made in his name to Hospice Advantage, 6340 Glenwood, Suite 109, Overland Park, KS 66202-4408 or Mid-America Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Suite 202, Cloverleaf Building 1, 6811 Shawnee Mission, KS 66202-4001.

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