Robert Vernon Courtney

Robert Vernon Courtney, 89, died Monday, February 3, 2025, surrounded by his family at his home in Baldwin City, Kansas.

Bob was born April 4, 1935, in Wakeeney, Kansas, the son of Vernon E. and Vivian (Reeves) Courtney. He graduated from Quinter High School in 1953 and furthered his education by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Baker University in 1957. While at Baker, he was a member of the Zeta Chi fraternity and participated in collegiate basketball and track. Following receipt of his undergraduate degree, Bob attended the University of Kansas for a year pursuing a Master’s Degree in Mathematics, which he achieved from Louisiana State University in 1961.

Bob began his mathematics teaching career at Lyndon High School in Lyndon, Kansas, in 1958 and later became a math teacher at Shawnee Mission East High School in 1961. He served as a math professor at Baker University from 1964 to his retirement in 1997.  While working at Baker, Bob also was the chair of the math department, eligibility chairman for the NAIA District 10, and the university’s faculty athletic advisor. He was inducted into the Baker University Athletic Hall Of Fame in 2010.

While at Baker University, Bob accepted a close friend’s invitation to be a summer camp counselor at Camp O-At-Ka, a boy’s camp in Sebago, Maine. This began a 70-year love story with the camp where he served in many capacities, including camp counselor, service master and even a stint as interim camp director.  Bob and his family enjoyed many wonderful summers on the shores of Lake Sebago. 

On June 5, 1957, Bob was united in marriage to Marlene L. Jamison in Quinter, Kansas. Throughout their 67 years of marriage, they raised a loving family and shared many wonderful adventures and trips both stateside and internationally. They became life-time residents of Baldwin City in 1964. During that time, Bob was a member of the United Methodist Church, Jaycees, and Lion’s Club. Throughout his life, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, and traveling. But his greatest love was his family and he spent many wonderful years as a son, brother, husband, uncle, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and great grandfather and was much loved by them all.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Vivian Courtney. He is survived by his wife, Marlene, of the home; a son, Bruce Courtney and his wife, JoAnn, of Shawnee, KS; a daughter, Debbie (Courtney) Boedeker and her husband, Phil, of Lee’s Summit, MO; three granddaughters, Kelly (Courtney) Kelly and her husband, Adam, of Basehor, KS, Jamie (Boedeker) Fryatt and her husband, Marcus, of Kansas City, MO, and Courtney (Boedeker) Birk and her husband, Tyler, of Lee’s Summit, MO; a grandson, Bobby Courtney and his wife, Calah, of Basehor, KS; two sisters, Kathleen Thomas of Baldwin City, KS and Vernell St. John of Lawrence, KS; eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, March 15, 2025 at First United Methodist Church, Baldwin City, KS.  Memorial contributions may be made to any of three memorials:

CAMP O-AT-KA
By Check:
Memo - Robert Courtney Memorial Scholarship Fund
 

MAIL TO:
Camp O-At-Ka
Attn: Robert Courtney Memorial Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 239
Sebago, ME 04029
 

Online Option:
www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/N32UGE9CGW45S
 

(please send an email to info@campoatka.org to inform us of the gift’s designation)

FUMC CLEAN WATER PROJECT – Baldwin First United Methodist Church
By Check:
Memo – Robert Courtney Memorial
 

MAIL TO:
Baldwin First UMC
704 Eighth Street
Baldwin City, KS  66006

BAKER UNIVERSITY MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
By Check:
Memo – Robert Courtney Memorial to Math Department
 

MAIL TO:
Baker University
PO Box 65
Baldwin City, KS 66006
 

Online Option:
Bakeru.edu/give/give-now (under designation chose other and allocate to Math Dept memorial for Robert Courtney)
 

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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