Stella Louise Price

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a ride!” (Hunter S. Thompson)

What a ride it has been! My life has been exciting, with ups and downs, but filled with many joys also. It’s with a bit of sadness that I am writing this, my own obituary. If you are reading this, I have died. I am not sure if I quietly entered my heavenly home, skidded in, ran into the arms of Jesus, or just eased on in, but I am sure I fought a good fight to stay alive. It has been my observation that we all want to go to heaven, but we just don’t want to die to get there. I know it is a wonderful place where I will see family and friends I have not seen in a long time. There will be wonderful music, much laughter and love, and I assume delicious food (and surely you never gain an ounce!). I’ve heard that God only takes the best so I guess that’s why I lived such a long life. He had a lot of work to do on me and now He is saying I am worthy, for which I am truly grateful.

Born in Monroe, LA. On June 22, 1937, and living there until 10 years old when my dad, Eugene G. Courtney, passed away. My mom, Eunette Kernagahan Courtney, and I moved to her childhood home in Hattiesburg, MS., where I lived until I married and moved to Baton Rouge and then to Denham Springs. I graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 3 years under an accelerated program, then graduated from Mississippi Southern, with a degree in Secondary Education. I was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.

I leave behind my 3 children, James E. Price, Jr. (Elsie), Pamela Gene Price, and Michael David Price and one deceased son, Edward Thomas Price: 6 grandchildren, Joshua Swick (Jamie), Courtney Swick Gongre (Michael), Sarah Matthews, Shana Price Ulmer (DJ), Jennifer Price McEachern (Todd), Christopher Price and 15 gifted, loving and super good looking great grandchildren, as well as my brother, Dr. Edward Kernaghan Courtney (Marifrances)(Missoula, Montana), and two nieces, Allison Courtney (Missoula, Montana) and Diane Courtney McKinney (Miami, Florida).

I had a wonderful family at Grace Presbyterian Church, also. They will never know the encouragement and many blessings they extended to me throughout my life there. The prayers they offered for me and my family, the love they extended, the thoughtfulness was so appreciated. I encourage all who read this to get involved in a true Bible believing church and grow in God’s grace.

I worked most of my life and made many friends. Just to name most of my employers; Red Ball Motor Freight, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and Family Worship Center, First Presbyterian Church, Sylvia Roberts Law Firm and South Baton Rouge Presbyterian Church. A few of my employers disappointed me, but I can say now to each of you, Thank you. My life was always in God’s hands. Because of the disappointment some showed me, God gave me wisdom and a much greater relationship with Him. What seemed to be unloving and unkind, God always turned into a blessing for me.

I was preceded in death by my parents, my son, Edward Thomas Price, my sister Gene Courtney Majure, her husband, (Ret) Federal Judge Sidney Majure, and her son, Dr. Curtis McKinney Jr. (Miami, FL).

I will miss all my family, and especially all the fun times and laughter we had when we got together for birthday parties, crawfish boils, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas Eve, as described by one friend as “the most fun she had ever had and an experience she had never had before or since” We never knew who would show up for any of our get-togethers, but family, friends, and even strangers were always welcome.

Life has been really wonderful to me. I loved traveling to most of the states in the U.S., and to countries in Europe; with my sister on an Alaskan cruise and to Holland; camping with Les Bon Amis camping club; fishing and crabbing with family and friends at Grand Isle; reading, and cooking and collecting many cookbooks from everywhere.

I loved the Lord who walked with me through every blessing and trail in my life – and there were plenty of both. I prayed for my family daily to experience that relationship with Him. As I write this, I ask God to let whoever reads this to have that relationship also. Jesus says, “No one comes to God but through me.” My prayer has always been that you accept Jesus as your personal Savior., and we will all be together again in our Heavenly Home.

It is with saddened and heavy hearts that we announce the death of Stella Louise Courtney Price, who passed away on Monday, October 21, 2024, and the age at 87. We will honor her passing at Grace Presbyterian Church, 9526 Joor Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70818, on Tuesday, October 29 beginning at 4pm. Stella will be laid to rest at Greenoaks Memorial Park during a private family ceremony.