Together again, his sweetheart welcomed him into heaven's gate on February 26, 2008. Roy was born in Vernon, TX on Feb. 1, 1929 to Florence and Henry McCourt. He was the youngest of three children. Soon after, the family moved to Casa, AR. Roy grew up fishing and hunting in the beautiful mountains of Arkansas with his father. It was there that he met and fell in love with his soul mate, Mable Wise. They married in 1950 and soon after moved to California to start their family. They made Buttonwillow their home and were honored in 2005 as Honorary Grand Marshals of the Buttonwillow Cotton Festival. During Roy's younger years he worked as a volunteer ambulance driver for the city of Buttonwillow, and at the Buena Vista Water District. He then began his long career as a school bus driver. He worked for the Buttonwillow Elementary School for a few years and then went to work for Shafter High School. He enjoyed pestering the local Buttonwillow kids that rode his bus. You could find Roy on the SHS campus leaning on his rake, pretending to be busy. He also enjoyed working the gate for the football games, and driving the kids and players to the away games. He was honored by the KHSD for his perfect driving record and safety awards. Roy retired from SHS after 30 years of service. Roy was a faithful member of the Buttonwillow Pentecostal Church of God for many years. He raised his children in church and was a strong member of the congregation. He enjoyed the trips to the coast with his church family, and especially loved the potluck Sundays. He later became a member of the Jesus Saves Church in Shafter, where his church family grew even bigger. He enjoyed helping out (supervising) and his favorite activity, Men's Fellowship night at China Cuisine with his friends. Roy was greeted in heaven by his loving wife Mable, who passed just nine months before. He was also preceded in death by his mother and father and brother Alvie, and many friends and family members that went on before him. He leaves behind to treasure his memory, his daughter Ruby and son-in-law Jack, son Anthony and daughter-in-law Connie, and sister Letha Mae Scoggins. He was a loving grandpa to nine grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind nieces, nephews, cousins and many great friends such as his caretaker Diane Castellon and dear friend Avery. Roy's world was his wife and family. Mable took care of him for over 50 years, when she became ill he was there by her side and took good care of her. It was a long hard journey, and when she went to heaven a part of him went with her. We have many wonderful memories with Roy, from camping trips to Greenhorn, trips to Morro Bay, family vacations to Arkansas, having coffee with friends at the freeway, and hunting trips with his grandsons and working in the garden. He spoiled all of his grandchildren and loved us all unconditionally. We will miss his honery character; he was a good man with good values and a kind heart. We have peace in knowing that he is with Grandma now and we will see them again some day. A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 1 at 11am at Jesus Saves Church, Shafter, for Roy McCourt, age 79, of Buttonwillow who passed away February 26, 2008 at home. Pastor Steve Seymour will officiate the service and interment will follow at Shafter Memorial Park. A visitation will be held Friday, February 29 from 4pm – 7pm at Peters Funeral Home, Shafter.