Duane E. Couey
Encyclopedia
Duane E. Couey was an American
leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church). Couey was a member of the church's Council of Twelve Apostles
and First Presidency
and also served a term as the church's Presiding Patriarch.
Couey was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. He was in the United States Navy
during World War II
, serving as a Petty Officer First Class Radioman aboard the destroyer escort Earl K Olson. After the war, he briefly worked as a manager in a plastics plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before becoming a missionary
for the RLDS Church, becoming a full-time RLDS Church minister in 1954. He was president of the Los Angeles
, California
Stake from 1958 to 1960.
On 2 April 1960, Couey was selected by RLDS Church president W. Wallace Smith
to become an apostle of the church and a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles
. At this time, he moved to Independence
, Missouri
, where the headquarters of the RLDS Church were located. Couey served in the Council of Twelve Apostles until 1966, when Smith selected him to replace the retiring F. Henry Edwards
as one of Smith's counselors in the First Presidency
of the church.
When W. Wallace Smith
retired and was succeeded by his son Wallace B. Smith
in 1978, Wallace B. Smith selected Couey and Howard S. Sheehy, Jr.
to be his counselors in the new First Presidency. In 1982, Couey was released in the First Presidency and was succeeded by Alan D. Tyree. At this time, Couey was appointed by Smith to succeeded Reed M. Homes as the Presiding Patriarch of the RLDS Church. In April 1992, Couey was released from this calling and retired from full-time ecclesiastical service. He was succeeded in this position by Paul W. Booth.
Couey was regarded for his abilities as a theologian, minister, and administrator. He was an enthusiastic mentor to many of the younger church appointees.
Couey was married to Edith Griswold of Madison, Wisconsin
in 1947, having two children, Patricia Louise, born in Milwaukee in 1952, and Ralph Floyd, born in 1955 in Paris, Tennessee
. Patricia became an expert in the field of learning disabilities
. Ralph is an intelligence analyst with the U.S. Department of Justice. Edith died of cancer in 1982. Couey was re-married to Margaret Rushing of Paris, Tennessee in 1987. Margaret died, also from cancer, in 2003.
Couey died in Independence, Missouri at age 79.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church). Couey was a member of the church's Council of Twelve Apostles
Council of Twelve Apostles (Community of Christ)
In the Community of Christ, The Council of Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy. They are disciples who hold the priesthood office of Apostle, and are responsible for the evangelistic witness of the church...
and First Presidency
First Presidency (Community of Christ)
The First Presidency of the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the church's highest-ranking priesthood quorum. It is composed of the president and two counselors, and they preside over the whole church under the principles of "theocratic...
and also served a term as the church's Presiding Patriarch.
Couey was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He was in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, serving as a Petty Officer First Class Radioman aboard the destroyer escort Earl K Olson. After the war, he briefly worked as a manager in a plastics plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before becoming a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
for the RLDS Church, becoming a full-time RLDS Church minister in 1954. He was president of the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Stake from 1958 to 1960.
On 2 April 1960, Couey was selected by RLDS Church president W. Wallace Smith
W. Wallace Smith
William Wallace Smith was a grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , from October 6, 1958 to April 5, 1978, when he retired to "emeritus" status....
to become an apostle of the church and a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles
Council of Twelve Apostles (Community of Christ)
In the Community of Christ, The Council of Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy. They are disciples who hold the priesthood office of Apostle, and are responsible for the evangelistic witness of the church...
. At this time, he moved to Independence
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, where the headquarters of the RLDS Church were located. Couey served in the Council of Twelve Apostles until 1966, when Smith selected him to replace the retiring F. Henry Edwards
F. Henry Edwards
Francis Henry Edwards was a British leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
as one of Smith's counselors in the First Presidency
First Presidency (Community of Christ)
The First Presidency of the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the church's highest-ranking priesthood quorum. It is composed of the president and two counselors, and they preside over the whole church under the principles of "theocratic...
of the church.
When W. Wallace Smith
W. Wallace Smith
William Wallace Smith was a grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , from October 6, 1958 to April 5, 1978, when he retired to "emeritus" status....
retired and was succeeded by his son Wallace B. Smith
Wallace B. Smith
Wallace Bunnell Anthony Smith was Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , from April 5, 1978 through April 15, 1996. Son of President W. Wallace Smith, he was designated as his father's successor in 1976, and ordained church president in 1978 when his...
in 1978, Wallace B. Smith selected Couey and Howard S. Sheehy, Jr.
Howard S. Sheehy, Jr.
Howard Sherman Sheehy, Jr. was a member of the First Presidency of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1978 to 2000...
to be his counselors in the new First Presidency. In 1982, Couey was released in the First Presidency and was succeeded by Alan D. Tyree. At this time, Couey was appointed by Smith to succeeded Reed M. Homes as the Presiding Patriarch of the RLDS Church. In April 1992, Couey was released from this calling and retired from full-time ecclesiastical service. He was succeeded in this position by Paul W. Booth.
Couey was regarded for his abilities as a theologian, minister, and administrator. He was an enthusiastic mentor to many of the younger church appointees.
Couey was married to Edith Griswold of Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
in 1947, having two children, Patricia Louise, born in Milwaukee in 1952, and Ralph Floyd, born in 1955 in Paris, Tennessee
Paris, Tennessee
Paris is a city in Henry County, Tennessee, United States, west of Nashville, on a fork of the West Sandy River. In 1900, 2,018 people lived in Paris, Tennessee; in 1910, 3,881; and in 1940, 6,395. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,763. It is the county seat of Henry...
. Patricia became an expert in the field of learning disabilities
Learning disability
Learning disability is a classification including several disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors...
. Ralph is an intelligence analyst with the U.S. Department of Justice. Edith died of cancer in 1982. Couey was re-married to Margaret Rushing of Paris, Tennessee in 1987. Margaret died, also from cancer, in 2003.
Couey died in Independence, Missouri at age 79.