Arthur Clide Courson

Arthur Clide Courson passed away peacefully at the Four Seasons Retirement Center in Columbus, In.Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. He was 94 years old. Clide, as he became known to family and friends, was born in a log home in Waynesville, Mo., on Dec. 18, 1912. He was the first of 11 children born to Sim Elda and Nora Adkins Courson. Clide moved to Danville with his family when he was 9 years old. There he attended Cannon School and Danville High School. Though he was a quick learner he shortly chose to leave school and take the full time employment offered him in order to help support his mother, father, and siblings. At age 25, he was wedded to his loving wife of 58 years, Alice Rose Roderick, in Danville. She preceded him in death February of 1996. Together they had two children, Patricia Lou Morris (Ben) of Greensburg, Ind., and Dr. Richard Clide Courson (Dr. Tina Tom) of Honolulu, Hawaii. After their marriage, the Coursons resided for a few wonderful years in Watseka. In 1943 Clide was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served for two and a half years before being honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant. He had been called home to care for his wife who was ill and their children. They then lived in Danville until 1955 when they moved to Rossville. There they lived and operated a grocery store until 1965, at which time they moved back to Danville. Danville was to remain their home until 1995 when they moved to Four Seasons Retirement Center in Columbus, Ind. Clide is survived by his two children; two grandsons, Gregory Small (Cindy Henken ) of Huntersville, N.C., and Randy Small (Sarah Cummins) of Alcoa, Tenn.; two great grandsons, Jesse Lee Small and Duncan James Small and one great granddaughter, Laurel Rose Small all of Alcoa, Tenn. He is also survived by three brothers, Carl Courson of Danville, James Courson of San Gabriel, Calif., and Robert Courson of Danville, as well as two sisters, Dora Lee McCullough of Neenach, Calif. , and Eunice Dixon of Covington,Ind. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, whose lives he touched. Throughout his life, Clide was active in the Lions Club, Elks Club and Masonic Lodge. In addition he was always a faithful servant in his church home where ever he lived. He is best known for his friendliness, his honesty and integrity and his guidance and counsel of others when asked and above all his unfailingly trust in God. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville. Visitation will be held from noon until time of service Saturday at the funeral home; officiating Pastor Robert Courson Jr., Interment Sunset Memorial Park. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com