Joseph Courcy was greeted by his wife and son at the Pearly Gates on Dec. 31, 2017, after a very short stay in the hospital. He was born to Joseph and Blanche (de’Mille’) Courcy on June 18, 1927, somewhere between Eau’ Claire, Wis. and Canada as the family legend goes. Born to a rambling French Canadian/Cree Indian Family, they traveled Canada and the Northern States trapping fur and picking salal and Cascara bark for a living. He and his family settled on the North Shore of Lake Quinault in the early 1930s. When World War II started, he and his brother, Phillip, joined the Army and they spent four years defending the United States. Upon discharge from the service, they received honorary Citizenship to the U.S. because of their outstanding military career. He eventually went back to Canada and married Doris Seymour, then brought her back to Hoquiam to make a home. He went to work for Grays Harbor County Road Dept. and later quit to work at Grays Harbor Community Hospital as the lead Janitor.

He enjoyed spending his time carving native art and animals, picking salal and ferns with his brother Phillip on the weekends and hiking the Olympic Peninsula. He most recently enjoyed his morning cups of coffee at McDonald’s while visiting with the staff and patrons. He kept himself company with his cats, Pepe’ and Missy and his good friend Elva Holbrook.

He is proceeded in death by both his parents, all his siblings and his Wife Doris and son, Jerry. He is survived by his only living relative, his niece and caregiver, de’Courcy (Kathi) Hoder.