Alfred James Court Senior 1932 – 2012

The Lord is my Shepherd: I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the
Paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
Shadow of death. I will fear no evil:
For thou art with me: thy rod and
Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the
Presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil:
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
Me all the days of my life: and I will
Dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Alfred was born the third child and second son of Clarence David and Ruth Esther nee Carlson Court on September 19, 1932 there was already an older brother and sister in the family Clarence (Sonny) and sister Phyllis Jean. Shortly after his birth tragedy struck the family and his older sister Phyllis Jean was hit and killed by a car, his family persevered and was blessed with 10 more children, Mildred, Genevieve, Charles, Winifred, Phillip, Donald, Mary, Margaret, Rose, Florence, and John.  Alfred lost both of his parents and two more sisters before he joined them in heaven.  Alfred is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and great, great, nieces and nephews.

Alfred was born in the heart of the depression and his parents struggled to feed and raise their children but instilled in Alfred a love of God and ethics of hard work and honesty. Alfred started his first job at the age of seven working for a chicken farm down the road.  He worked continuously for the next 60 year.  He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1950 and immediately joined the United States Air Force.

Alfred served his four years in Texas and brought his growing family back to the Pacific Northwest.  They settled in Seattle Washington where Alfred attended the University of Washington for three years.  Alfred did not graduate from college instead he took a job in the Technical industry and worked there until retirement at the age of 55.  Alfred did not stop working although he tried.  For a few years he and his wife would pack up the RV and head down to Arizona for the winter.  As a snow birder he would take long hikes in the desert often picking up interesting rocks (Alfred’s mother also loved rocks and in her later years would make necklaces for her granddaughters). Meeting new friends was one of Alfred’s favorites past times, he never tired of talking to people and would especially love to greet and tease babies and small children.  He never did he meet a stranger or someone that he could not strike up a conversation with. Alfred would stay until after the Mariners spring training camp and then head back home.  He would come back home and look for odd jobs to keep him busy.  He went on to sell insurance to the Knights of Columbus and then to being a delivery driver for specialty items.  Alfred enjoyed driving and was delighted to have company when he could cajole someone into coming along.

While in the military Alfred was stationed in Austin Texas and met his wife Helen while at a Technical school in Denver Colorado.  Helen tells the story of how she had stopped at the five and Dime to eat dinner after her shift ended at the local hospital where she was a nursing aide and she looked up and there were three airmen crowding into the booth seat across from her.  She didn’t know what to do and when one of the fellows followed her home she left him sitting out on the porch steps until her mother went out and sent him on his way.  Alfred and Helen celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary on April 19,2012.

Alfred and Helen were blessed with four children and is survived by his wife Helen, his son Alfred (Jim) James Court Jr., born July 1, 1953, his

 

Alfred and Helen

 

 

wife Karen, their two children Steven Jon and Jamie Lynn.  His son David Phillip Court Senior, born October 9, 1962. David’s daughter Megan Court Close-Shebig, her husband Sven and great grandson Michael Scott Close-Shebig, and Alfred’s daughter Catherine Cherie Court, born August 14, 1965.  His son Reyman Alan Court born August 31, 1963 died on February 24, 1995.  Alfred worked hard to give his children a better life and he showed his love to them always, he was not the disciplinarian in the family and the threat wait until your father gets home was often heard but never feared.  He supported his children and was a welcoming figure to the many childhood friends that his kids brought into his home. He was an avid reader but rarely had time to read more than his Bible or the daily newspaper which he would read from cover to cover including the classifieds.  He and his wife instilled a love of reading in their children but it was their daughter who became an insatiable reader and he would from time to time as she grew try to read one of the numerous romance novels she had laying around the house.

Alfred and his wife were also foster parents for several years and had numerous children in and out  of their home often the children stayed a short period and then went on their way, however a few of the children stayed on for several years or until they were old enough to live on their own.

Alfred, Jim, Karen, Jamie, Catherine, Reyman

David, Steven, Helen, Ruth Esther (Alfred’s Mother)

 

 

Alfred’s up bringing in the Catholic Church influenced him throughout his lifetime.  He ensured that all of his children were raised in the faith and belief that God loved them regardless of any transgressions they might commit, just as he loved them.  He was a devoted follower and rarely if ever missed Sunday service, he also taught Sunday school for many years, donated his time to St. Vincent DePaul, was an usher during mass and reached the level of 4^th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus.  He would often pick up change from the ground when he saw it, often pennies and put them in a jar. Then at the end of the year he would take his jar full of change in to be donated to the charity that the Knights were supporting that year.

Alfred was also an avid supporter of his community and helped with the community float and community days.  During the summer he and his family would pack up and travel to all the small and large towns towing the float to participate in parades throughout the area.  Alfred was also an enthusiastic hunter and in the fall beginning in 1958 would take two weeks off to meet up with a cousin Walter Donald Carlson in the middle of Washington State.  In the 47 years that they would go “hunting” only one time did they ever actually bring home animal that they had shot.

Alfred passed to the Lord on August 24, 2012 after a long illness at his daughter’s home in Washington State.  He was buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland Oregon. Alfred is greatly loved and his family will miss him always.  God Bless and keep him till we meet again.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,

The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

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Graveside Service

Willamette National Cemetery

September 6, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.

Portland Oregon

Memorial Service

September 8, 2012, at 2:00 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Milwaukee Oregon

Celebrant Father Jorge Hernandez

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