Courter, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Courter, 98, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Waterloo, died Saturday, July 14, 2012, at the North Brook Manor Care Center, Cedar Rapids.

She was born June 5, 1914, in St. Stevens, Minn., daughter of John and Helen Schumer Smoley. She married Paul K. Courter on July 27, 1940, at St. Stephens, he died May 11, 1984.

She lived in Detroit, Mich., until moving to Waterloo following World War II. She was employed as a waitress for many years in the Convair Room at the Waterloo Municipal Airport.

Survivors include three daughters, Susette (Michael Kortemeyer) of Mount Vernon, Norma (Jack Stypa) of Post Falls, Idaho, and Paula Gagle of Marion; a son, Ken (Edna) of El Cerrito, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a brother, Henry Smoley of St. Stephens; and a sister, Dorothy Barrett of St. Paul, Minn.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, LeAnn; a son-in-law, Frank Gagle; seven brothers; and a sister.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Edward's Catholic Church with burial in Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery. Public visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway, Waterloo, where there will be a 4 p.m. rosary. Visitation will continue at the church for one hour Thursday before services.

Memorials may be directed to St. Edward's Catholic Church

Condolences may be left with .

Elizabeth enjoyed traveling. A highlight in her life was a trip to Rome with her sisters, and an audience with Pope John Paul II. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister who was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

Have a little nip with your loved ones who have gone before you in remembrance of us mortals whom you have left behind. God Bless.

Published in The Gazette July 17, 2012.