Pawnee Bill Courtney Jr.

1926 - 2007

Pawnee Bill Courtney Jr., 81, a loving husband, father and grandfather, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007.
Funeral: 2 p.m. Friday at John Knox Presbyterian Church. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park.
Memorials: John Knox Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 4350 River Oaks Blvd., River Oaks, Texas 76114.
Bill was born Oct. 7, 1926, in Fort Worth and grew up on the city's north side. After graduating from Northside High School he joined the United States Navy and served in the Pacific theater during World War II.
After the war, Bill worked in construction where he became a master mason. He did masonry work in several of Fort Worth's well-known buildings. He won several awards for the artistic talent of his work.
Bill married Vivian Surber Chenault on March 16, 1961, in Fort Worth, and he managed their restaurant, Vivian Courtney's Restaurant on Jacksboro Highway for 42 years until it closed in 2003. Bill was a friend to all of his customers.
Mr. Courtney was a member and elder of John Knox Presbyterian Church. He had a strong but quiet faith and loved visiting with and helping people.
He had an active mind and an appreciation of and for history and was an avid collector of many things.
The family would like to express sincere appreciation to Dr. Robert Hart Kelly for his care and friendship through Bill's illness.
Survivors: His wife of 46 years, Vivian Surber Courtney; daughters, Lisa Courtney of Lake Worth and Lynda Richey and her husband, Murray, of Lake Worth; his son, Bill Chenault and his wife, Barbara; Lisa's son, Darrian; Lynda's children, Greg and Ashley; Bill's children, Courtney and Steven; his sister, Cheri Stone of Boyd; his extended family; and many loving friends.