Marie Courtney Kukal (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Marie Courtney Kukal a former resident of Bolivar, MO and Sun City West, AZ passed away August 4, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.
She was born April 17, 1917 to Harry and Bertie Sharp Courtney at the family farm home near Aldrich, MO.
She graduated from Bolivar High School in 1935 and attended SW MO State Teachers College (MO State University) in Springfield.
On Dec 23, 1936 she married George E. Kukal in Springfield, MO and they set up housekeeping in Mountain Grove MO where George was teaching in the high school.
To this union two sons were born, Ronald E. and Gerald C. Kukal who survive.
Marie was a lifetime member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), having been baptized in the Sac River from the Aldrich Christian Church at age 10. At the time of her death she was a member of the Sun City Christian Church, Sun City, AZ.
On Jan 1, 1941 they moved to St. Louis, MO where they lived until their retirement and return to Bolivar in June 1976. Her working years included substitute teaching for four years in Mountain Grove; three years with Katz Drug Co. in St. Louis; and a 23-year career as a civil servant with the Department of the Army in St. Louis. Wherever they lived their lives revolved around family, school and church activities. In Bolivar they were members of First Christian Church and active workers in the Polk County Unit of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association. Marie was a member of the Missouri Federated Ladies Study Club while here, a life member of the CMH Auxiliary and served both on the Board of Directors of Bolivar Area Community Concert Association and the Polk County Christian Social Ministries.
She enjoyed playing the piano and music in general and was a 50-year church choir member.
They moved to Sun City West, AZ in 1988 as snowbirds for six years, spending six months in each state, until 1994 when they sold their home in Bolivar then becoming full-time residents of Arizona.
George died April 29, 2003, their having celebrated a sixty-six year, four-months marriage.
Marie is survived by her sons and their wives, Ronald & Beverly of Dallas and Gerald & Nancy of Las Vegas; her sister-in-law, Mrs. Helen Kukal Ashley of St. Louis; six granddaughters, Beth, Julia, Margaret, Melony, Angela and Kathy; three step-granddaughters; numerous step-great-grandchildren, step-great-great grandchildren, nephews and nieces: and special friends Mary Kukal of Dallas and Susan Sunderman of Webster Groves, MO.
Funeral services will be August 11, 2010 at 10 AM at the Butler Funeral Home Chapel, Bolivar, MO with Rev. Jerry Book officiating. Internment will follow immediately in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Aldrich, MO. Casketbearers will be Julia Mallett, Kent Kukal, Joe Long, Beth Kukal, Donald Creed, Tom Jennings, Marty Harris, Tony Sylvester.
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