Wasco-Statewide County OR Archives Obituaries.....DeCourcey, Keith Raymond August 1, 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com December 30, 2006, 2:41 pm The Dalles Chronicle, August 17, 2006 Keith Raymond DeCourcey, 81, of Gresham, died Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006 at his home. He was born in Pasco, Wash., on Jan. 6, 1925, to Phillip and Pauline DeCourcey, and spent his boyhood in Burbank and Underwood in Washington, and Maupin and The Dalles in Oregon. He attended Maupin High School for three years. His family moved to The Dalles in 1941, where he spent his senior year and helped lead their football team to the state title. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943, was commissioned as an Ensign in 1945 and served as a deck officer in the Pacific on the USS Parker and the USS Turner. He was released from service in 1946. After high school, and interspersed throughout his military service, he attended college at Dartmouth, Oregon State University, the University of Washington and the University of Oregon. He played for the University of Washington in their 1944 Rose Bowl loss to USC. The following year, playing fullback for the Huskies, he was the 1944 Pacific Coast Conference (Pac-10) champion for most points scored (9th in the nation) and was named to the All- Coast Team by the Associated Press. Keith also threw javelin for the Huskies in track and field. He had the best toss in the Pac-10 for the 1945 season. Keith was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1946 NFL draft. At University of Oregon, he was part of the 1948 Cotton Bowl team. He graduated from University of Oregon in 1949 with degrees in education and PE/health. He was a high school teacher in Eugene, Prineville and Gresham, where at various times he taught math, PE, and social studies. He also coached the Crook County High School football team to state Class 3A football championships in 1952 and 1953. He also coached football, wrestling and golf at Centennial High School. He was eventually promoted to head the counseling department and retired from that position in 1984. In 1945, he married Cassie von Borstel. They had four sons. They later divorced. She died in 1995. In 1988, he married Judy Rae Morris. They later divorced. He met Joyce Lowe in 1989 and they were loving companions for 17 years. She cared for Keith during his illness and was with him when he died. He enjoyed the outdoors, athletics and spending time with his friends and family. He was a University of Oregon Football season ticket holder, and a lifetime supporter of the Ducks. He is survived by his longtime companion, Joyce Lowe; brother, Denis; children, Michael of Gresham, Paul of Gresham, Mark of Portland and Doug of Troutdale; and five grandchildren. Keith was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Paul. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Remembrances may be sent to the University of Oregon Athletic Fund. Additional Comments: Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon, Dan Spatz, Editor (e-mail dated 3/7/2006). File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/wasco/obits/d/decource2765gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb