John Patrick Courtney Jr.

John Patrick "Son" Courtney, Jr., born on July 14, 1921, and a life-long resident of Mobile, Alabama, died on Tuesday, October 2, 2012. He was the son of John P. and Mabel Hartwell Courtney and the husband of Catherine Toomey Courtney. Son grew up in the Flo Claire neighborhood and attended McGill Institute where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. he attended Spring Hill College until 1942, at which time he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps On July 3, 1943 while on a bombing mission to Romania, his B-24 was disabled and Son parachuted into Bulgaria where he was taken captive. Toward the conclusion of the war and as the Soviets approached Bulgaria, Son and his fellow prisoners escaped and commandeered a train (in reverse) to Turkey whereupon they made their way back to America via Egypt, Libya, Italy, ect. Of the experience he said, "It made us stronger." he was awarded a number of medals for bravery in action. One of the highlights of his life was being a member of Honor Fight VI in 2011.

Son was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 58 years, Kate, his daughter Amy Marie Courtney, and his sister, Helen Hartwell Courtney. He is survived by his two sons, John Patrick (Janet) Courtney, III and Edward Toomey (Susan) Courtney, his grandchildren, Catherine Merritt Courtney, Lauren Isabelle Courtney, Amy Linden Courtney, Katelyn Marie Courtney, Susan Hartwell Courtney, and John Patrick Courtney, IV, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

After World War II, Son formed Courtney & Pharr Agents, with H. Austill Pharr. He worked in the insurance business until his death - 62 years He also managed John Hancock General Agents for many years. Son was President of the Mobile Realtors Association, the Country Club of Mobile, the Rowdies Golf Association, and the Colony Cove Association. He was Comic Cowboy of the Year in 2010. He was active in many other civic, social, and mystic organizations.

Honorary pallbearers will include Robert Boykin, Jay W. Green, Thomas M. Hinds, Robert H. Rouse, Dr. John A. Pitman, B. Franklin King, Robert J. Williams, John M. McClelland, John H. Wilson, Dr. Lawrence S. McGee, H. Manson Murray, and William H. Stimpson.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 5, 2012 at 11 a.m. at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. The family will receive friends at the Marian Center from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the McGill Foundation, or Spring Hill College.