Joseph A. DeCoursey Jr.

Joseph A. DeCoursey, Jr., 61 of Blue Springs, MO passed from this life on 02-18-2012. He was preceded in death by his father Joseph, Sr, his mother Virginia, his brother Tom, his nephew Connor, and his sister-in-law Laura McWhorter. Joe is survived by his wife and best friend Ruth, his son Joseph III, daughter Sara, his granddaughter Airyanna and Ruth's parents Jim and Sara McWhorter; his sisters, Barbara Roy (Lucien), Jean Lowe (Dennis), and Margaret Landolt (Joe) and brothers Mark DeCoursey (Angela) and Charlie DeCoursey (Cara), brothers-in-law Greg McWhorter (Lisa) and Steve McWhorter (Terry); sisters-in-law Julie Turner (Dr. Robert) and Mary Inman (Steve), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Joe was fiercely proud of his family’s history in the dairy industry, his Catholic/Jesuit education at Kapaun High School in Wichita, KS, and the B.S. in Criminal Justice he recieved from Rockhurst College in Kansas City. Joe had a life-long love of western, military and law enforcement movies and television shows. Joe loved the classics: Andy Griffith, The Little Rascals, Dragnet, Adam 12, and Hawaii Five-0 and was prone to repeat classic lines in any and all professional and social settings. He could quote Clint Eastwood, George C Scott, or Steve McQueen but favored Barny, Andy, or Goober. Joe had a fantastic sense of humor and loved hearing and telling jokes to all he came in contact with. Joe was an avid reader of military history and studied The American Civil War and World War II in great detail. Joe had a fondness of anything sports-related but had a serious devotion, love, and passion for Notre Dame football, KU basketball and his Wednesday night poker game. Joe loved the outdoors and cherished trips to Jim and Sara's lake house as well as fishing and hunting expeditions with friends and family.

Joe recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety and his recovery served as inspiration to many afflicted with the family disease of Alcoholism. His love of children was evident through his 28-year career choice as a juvinille case management officer with the Jackson County Family Court but was best manifested in his relationship with Joey, Sara, and Airyanna.

Joe's legacy of compassionate caring and humility will long be remembered through his participation in the Midwest organ donation program. Joe's big heart and spirit will continue to live in those who received his last gifts of life. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Please join the family for a visitation at McGilley State Line Chapel on Wednesday, February 22nd, from 5 to 8 p.m., and a funeral mass on Thursday, February 23rd, 10:00 a.m., at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Blue Springs, MO.