Obituary of Philip I. Court

PEABODY – Philip I. Court, 87, died peacefully on November 10, 2011 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers with his devoted daughter, Damarys (Candida) Bouchard by his side. Born November 4, 1924 on Webb Street in Salem, he was the youngest son of the late Harvey and Jeannie (Hardy) Court. During his early years Phil drove with his family to Michigan looking for a better life. When the Great Depression hit they drove back to Peabody where Phil grew up attending Peabody schools and graduating from Peabody High School. After high school Phil tried to enlist in military service but was rejected because of deafness in one ear, the result of a childhood illness. That did not deter Phil; he joined the Merchant Marines and served his country well during WWII. On one voyage to England in December of 1944, in hurricane seas, he was tossed against a ship’s prop lashed to the deck and injured his back; he suffered with back pain until the day he died. Phil often commented that he was proud of his service to his country Phil was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Barbara (Dunn) Court of Peabody. They raised their four children in a small camp that Phil renovated on the shores of Chebacco Lake in Essex, MA. Years later, Phil & Barbara purchased an old farm house retreat in Newfield ME, where family and friends relaxed and enjoyed many happy memories. Phil worked 42 years as a lineman at Massachusetts Electric. In 1977 Phil took a two-year leave of absence to join the Peace Corps in Ecuador with Barbara. Phil taught the Ecuadorians how to put up electrical poles and lines. Upon returning to the States Phil did not want to forget his Spanish so he offered to teach English to a family that had just moved to Salem from the Dominican Republic. The family of Tony & Maria Vargas quickly became Phil’s devoted second family, forming a deep family bond that continues 32 years later. Phil was a Freemason member of Amity-Mosaic Lodge Danvers, MA. After retirement Phil enjoyed traveling in his RV finally settling at Rainbow Country RV Park in Cedar Key, FL. He later moved to Tilton, NH to be closer to his sons. He was an avid reader and self-educated. His granddaughter, Monique, used to say, “My Grampy knows everything.” Phil’s passions were cooking, baking, building, and copper work (that he learned in Ecuador). He always said he should have been a teacher, chef, or baker. Phil loved teaching and helping others. One of his Hospice nurses said he taught her how to tie knots when she would visit him. He lived a long, full, and happy life. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Harvey & Stanley Court and his closest friend Arthur Glackin. He is survived by his four children: David & Nancy Court of Northfield, NH, Kathy & Ron Bourgault of Danvers, Rob Court of Belmont, NH, Gretchen & Roland Gauthier of Salem; and the Vargas family of Peabody including “adopted” daughter Damarys (Vargas) & John Bouchard of Peabody, and Hilda (Vargas) & Michael Record of Kittery, ME; his grandchildren: Adam Gauthier, Jessica Court, Monique & Eric Bourgault, Kelvin Espinal, and John & Danielle Bouchard; his great grandson, Russell Gauthier; his Godson, William Hernandez, and many nieces and nephews. ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for a memorial service at the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street Peabody on Saturday, November 26th at 12:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the North Shore, www.hns.org 75 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA 01923; Only A Child group home for street youth in Guatemala City (to buy a van) www.onlyachild.org; or a charity of your choice. Please visit www.ccbfuneral.com for online obituary and to sign condolences.