January 30, 1955 – September 6, 2024

Robert Galen Courtney, allegedly 69, despite insisting that he was 29 for 40 years straight, of either Alvin, Texas or Mars – his family was never quite sure which – died September 6, 2024 after a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family at his daughter’s home in Friendswood.

He was born in Springfield, Illinois on January 30, 1955, to John and Carol Courtney, who knew from the moment he was born that something was special about Robbie. They were proven right when they noticed once that Robbie took the safety pin from his cloth diaper and stuck it in his dad’s buttock or when his mom was outside hanging laundry and kept hearing “mommy mommy” and as she looked up Rob was walking along the gutters on the second story…. he was about 18 months old. Or how he loved to runaway buck naked and be returned by the police…. he was 2 years old. Rob grew up in Springfield, Illinois before, joining the United States Marine Corps in 1972 and remained a Marine until 1979. He was at Camp Lejeune from 1972-1975, then went to Okinawa, Japan in 1976 and in 1977 returned to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. After leaving California in late 1979, he then re-enlisted with the Illinois Air National Guard in 1980 all of which amazed his family, who were pretty certain Rob would run away to join the circus or a motorcycle gang. He was always the “Wild Child” and you never knew what Robbie was getting into.

While in Oceanside, California, Rob met his future wife Debbie and with her…. he met his match. They both enjoyed the same things, muscle cars and drag racing and were both pretty wild in life and about each other. It was a perfect match. They left Oceanside and moved to Springfield, Illinois in 1979 to be with his family. In 1981 they packed up and moved to Houston where Rob began his career in security. They have been married for 45 years and she was the love of his life.

Rob had such a love of muscle cars, motorcycles, guns and photography.

Rob was loved by all, he had such a dry sense of humor and he loved his family. He instilled in his children that family comes first. He was a momma’s boy through and through and the love he had for his mom was so special. He had another soft spot for his baby sister, Jeannie, who he was always close with. Rob loved all the women in his life beginning with his mom, to his sister, to his wife, to his daughter and then his only granddaughter, Grace…. she was his Angel Eyes. Rob’s son Jeremy was an exact replica of him and all the grief he caused his own parents came back to him tenfold. Jeremy always looked up to his Dad and he will always be his hero. Rob loved his grandsons. And he tried really hard to rub off on them. His first Grandson, Trevor, definitely got some of his grandpa in him…he loves cars, and they always did local car shows together. Rob enjoyed those special times with his Trevmiester. His other grandson Austin, that was his “bug”. They had a special bond. Rob loved spending time with his grandchildren and one of the things about his sickness that was hard, was he couldn’t be as involved as he wanted to be. He missed some major life events and those were hard facts for him.

Rob was preceded in death by his mom, Carol Jean Courtney, his grandmother Dorothy Mrasak, his paternal grandmother Ethel Courtney, his Uncle Harry Courtney, Uncle Larry Nichols and many other aunts, uncles and cousins who will be thrilled to deal with Rob antics in the afterlife.

He is survived by his father, Ed Courtney, 94, of Riverton, Illinois, his wife Debbie Courtney of Alvin, his daughter Stacy Parsons and her husband James of Friendswood, his son Jeremy Courtney of Alvin, his grandson Trevor Mendenhall and wife Blaine of Friendswood; his granddaughter Grace Thornhill and husband Parker of Friendswood, grandson Austin, his brother Dan Courtney and wife Denise of Florida, his sister Jeannie Courtney Albertin and husband Tony of Atlanta, Illinois, brother Mark Courtney and wife Elaine, of New Berlin, Illinois, his brother Ed Courtney and wife Peytsie of Riverton, Illinois, his favorite Aunt Bev and Uncle Joe Catalano of Spaulding, Illinois and many nephews, nieces, great aunts and uncles and cousins.

We would love to thank everyone that cared for Rob. Methodist Hospital Clear Lake and the nurses on the 3rd Floor, his oncologist, Dr. Natasha Hirani and her staff at Methodist Oncology and the amazing staff at Harbor Hospice. His Nurse Deborah (Lynn), Narie his weekend nurse and Kristy our Aide. They gave such wonderful care and showed so much compassion to Rob and our family. We will forever be grateful for everyone that cared for Rob the past 7 years when this all began.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home located at 311 N. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas 77546 (281) 992-7200. A reception to follow afterwards at The Cloth Yard located at 315 S. Friendswood Drive on the 2nd Floor. The entrance is in the rear of the building. We will have a second service in Illinois at a later date where he will be laid to rest at Camp Butler with Military Honors.