Connie Mack Courtney, 89, of Lake Jackson, TX, passed on from this earth on February 25, 2019. Connie was born in Wiergate, Texas to Travis Newton Courtney and Margaret Grant Sheffield Courtney on March 13, 1929. On September 4, 1954 in Prairie Lea, Texas, he married Minnie Frances Appling to whom he was married for 39 years. On August 25, 1995 in Lake Jackson, Connie married Jerri Huffman, to whom he was married for 24 years.
Connie’s family moved to Jasper, Texas when he was a young child, and he began his work career early in life. At the age of 14, he worked as a surveyor. At 16, he built ships in the Beaumont, TX shipyards for the World War II effort. At 17, he entered the Marine Corps and served his country for 2 years, after which he spent the next 3 years earning a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Stephen F Austin College. Upon graduation, he relocated to the Lake Jackson area and began his career as a Chemist with Dow Chemical Company, where he worked for 39 years until his retirement in 1991.
Connie Mack was an active member of the Lake Jackson community. In 1958, he helped lay the cornerstone for Wesley Chapel, the predecessor of First United Methodist Church of Lake Jackson, where he taught Sunday School for over 40 years. Following his retirement from Dow, he volunteered over 3000 service hours at the Sea Center Texas where he led tours, educated youth, and planted wild flowers.
Connie truly enjoyed life. He coached Little League, was an avid golfer, and was a lifelong gardener who grew and nurtured some of the most beautiful flowers in the Lake Jackson area. He loved to dance, and he enjoyed travelling so much that he visited all 50 states in the union. At the age of 65, he embarked on a career as a house husband during his marriage to Jerri, and was proud of the fact that he always had a hot meal ready for her when she returned home from work each evening.
Connie was preceded in death by his first wife, Minnie Francis Appling Courtney, and his parents, Travis and Margaret Courtney. He is survived by his second wife Jerri Huffman Courtney, his children Kathryn Courtney (David D’Agostaro), Marsha Courtney Goodson (John), John Courtney (Rhonda Shay), Jerry Scott (Ann), Sherri Scott Harper (Brett), Sue Scott, and Allen Scott (Alicia). Grandchildren are John F. “Trey” Goodson, III (Allison), Francesca D’Agostaro, Courtney D’Agostaro, Russell Yarbrough, Dustin Harper, Jessica Harper Rhodes (Cory), Jennifer Scott Null (Jason), William Scott, Taylor Brady, Luke Scott and Aaron Scott, as well as 4 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Lake Jackson, on Friday, March 1, 2019, starting at 1:30pm, followed by a Memorial Service at 2:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to a charity of your choice or to Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Lake Jackson.
