Wayne Courtney

Elwood Wayne Courtney died peacefully on February 7th, 2025. Wayne was born on April 15th, 1931 in Elnora, Indiana. His parents, Ralph Courtney and Laura (Taylor) Courtney, instilled in him a great appreciation for family, education, and the outdoors. After graduating from Elnora High School, Wayne attended Purdue University, where he received two Bachelor’s degrees (in Forestry and Agriculture), and Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Agriculture Education. While at Purdue, he met and married Shirley Ann Nichols in Lafayette, Indiana on April 7th, 1954, a marriage that would result in two loving children, Jann and Greg, last over 70 years, and was considered by Wayne to be the best part of his life. During his distinguished career as an educator at both the University of Wisconsin – Stout (Menomonie) and Oregon State University, Wayne received numerous teaching and research awards, and was well known as a master mentor in advising graduate students in statistical design and research methods. Following his formal retirement, he became a widely known national and international consultant, lecturer, and author, publishing several statistics texts and conducting consulting work in several countries, most notably Thailand, where he travelled numerous times and held a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship. Wayne was also extremely proud of his military service. In 1953 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, based mostly in West Germany. He subsequently joined the Army Reserves, where he served until 1972, retiring at the rank of Major (Military Intelligence). Wayne’s personal interests focused largely on family, including camping trips to all corners of North America. He was also passionate about fishing, birding, canoeing, and spending time on the Oregon Coast and at wildlife refuges in western Oregon. Wayne is survived by his sister Shirley Durell (Robert), daughter Jann Palach (Brad), son Greg Courtney (Barb), 2 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Harold Rex and Donald Winston, and his devoted spouse and soulmate, Shirley Ann. If you wish to make a donation in Wayne’s honor, please consider the Seven Capes Bird Alliance, the Audubon Society chapter serving the central Oregon coast. You can either give online at sevencapes.org/donate and send an email to info@sevencapes.org indicating that the gift is in Wayne Courtney's honor, or mail a check to Seven Capes Bird Alliance, P.O. Box 38, Lincoln City, OR 97367 and place "Wayne Courtney Memorial" on the memo line.

Tributes

Wayne Courtney

April 5, 1931 - February 7, 2025