Jimmie Lou Courtney

Jimmie Lou Courtney, 85, of Gower, MO passed away Friday, March 19, 2010 at the Gower Convalescent Center.

She was born on March 5, 1925 to James Henry and Minnie Florence (Witt) Courtney in Buchanan County near Gower. Jimmie Lou graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1943, where she was class president.

She worked in the traffic department of Wm. Volker and Company in Kansas City, MO. She then traveled to San Francisco, CA and worked for an import-export company for 10 years. Jimmie Lou returned to Gower in 1953 and went to work for a firm of attorneys in Kansas City and continued to work there until her retirement.

Jimmie Lou was a long time member of the Gower Christian Church where she served in several capacities and as Chairperson of the Church Board for several years. Jimmie Lou served as an Alderman in Gower and went on as Mayor of Gower from 1972 to 1987. As Mayor, Jimmie Lou was instrumental in the development of Heritage Park and the conversion from septic system to sewer system.

Jimmie was known as the family historian and was the keeper of all important documents and pictures. She wrote genealogies for the Witt, Courtney, Moore, Williams and Divinia families of this area. She and her sister, Pauline spent countless hours recording cemetery plots in Buchanan and Clinton Counties, work which can be found on the internet. She was caretaker of her sisters’ elaborate Japanese Garden. She enjoyed baking cookies as the self professed “Cookie Monster”. She also delivered Meals On Wheels.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Lucy Marie Courtney Pipes, Irene Opal Courtney Ferril, Anna Dorothy Courtney Elam and Pauline Mae Courtney; and brother, Clifford W. Courtney.

Jimmie Lou is survived by her nieces and nephews; Betty Pipes Niemann, Grapevine, TX, Helen Ferril Brock, Kearney, MO, Susan Ferril Compton, Spring Hill, KS, Luann Courtney Wymore, Slater, MO; numerous great-nieces and nephews including Kristin Wymore Meyer, Gower; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 23^rd at the Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower

Burial: Allen Cemetery, Gower

Visitation: 6:30-8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Donations may be made to the Gower Christian Church.