COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO

On August 25, 2022, Nora Belle Courier died in Colorado Springs after a brief illness. She was ninety years old.

Nora Courier is survived by her children, Daniel Courier (Diana), Pamela Shoup (Greg), Lynn Courier (James Visser), her cousins Daniel Gallington, Roger Gallington, Pauline Eversole, Randy Courier-Romero, and her niece Sara Goad (Robert), and nephews Steve Schoepke (Nancy), and Keith Schoepke. She was preceded in death by her parents Ralph W. Chenoweth (Nora Belle), her husband David C Courier, her son David S Courier, her companion, Mike Gray, and one great-grandchild, Thomas Elyon Shoup.

Nora loved her 10 grandchildren: Adam, Danielle (Mark), Dana (Josh), Eric (Jolie), Priscilla (Kiara), Oliver David (Lindsay), Brad (Catherine), Jeff (Lauren), Nick (Bridget), Sam (Sophie), and 16 great-grandchildren, and kept up with them both in person and virtually.

Nora Courier was born on February 19, 1932, in Oconee, Illinois to Ralph and Nora Belle Chenoweth. She graduated from Woodstock High School in the Class of 1950 and went on to attend the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago for two years.  After marrying David C. Courier, her high school sweetheart, in 1952, she moved to Crawfordsville, IN and they started a family.

Nora and Dave lived on the Wabash College campus in Mud Hollow, the married student housing on campus. While in Crawfordsville, they welcomed David and Daniel in 1954. After Dave's graduation and moving to Texas, Pamela joined the family in 1955. Almost two years later in Ohio, Lynn arrived in 1957.

The family then moved to Indiana. Once her children were in school, Nora continued her education at Indiana University, graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor of Music degree with Phi Kappa Lambda Honors. She continued with her studies at Indiana University and earned a Master of Music degree in 1970, and almost completed her Ph.D.

While Nora was completing her degrees and raising her children, she was a church music director at a large city church, taught private piano and organ lessons, and was an adjunct professor of music theory and appreciation at Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis). 

With Dave's career, they moved multiple times throughout their marriage. They lived in Illinois, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and finally, Colorado. In every city, she created a fabulous community of friends and served as a convenor and facilitator in creating events, new experiences, and plenty of adventures. Everywhere they lived, Nora continued her love of music as a performer, teacher, and enthusiastic audience member and patron.

Dave and Nora settled in Colorado Springs in 1993, after visiting Vail, Colorado almost every summer since 1977. Together, they took full advantage of Colorado living including hiking, playing golf and tennis, and hosting their famous picnics in the mountains. After Dave died, Nora continued to live life to the fullest, joining many organizations, participating in multiple activities, hosting friends and family visiting Colorado, and holding court on her patio during cocktail hour.

She continued to build meaningful relationships, including bringing her companion, Mike Gray, to Colorado Springs after reconnecting at a Wabash College reunion and expanding her family to include Josep Caballé Domenech, his wife, Monica Sabate, and their two children, Marc and Eric. Josep and his family stayed with Nora over the years he was the Music Director of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.

She also enjoyed traveling and having wonderful experiences in Australia, Africa, Europe, South America, and Alaska. She made friends and had amazing adventures in every city and country she visited.

A celebration of life for Nora B Courier will be held in Colorado Springs in June 2023. Details will be shared on her memorial website, www.noracourier.com when they are finalized

For those of you interested in donating to organizations that mattered to her, here are a few options to consider:

BRAVO! Vail
2271 N Frontage Rd W, Suite C
Vail, Colorado 81657
970.827.5700
WAYS TO SUPPORT (click here)
To either the:
Artistic Excellence Fund: Jason Denhart – 970.827.4305
Education and Engagement Program: Lynda Boyne, 970.827.4322

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
522 S. Frontage Rd. E.
Vail, CO 81657
(970) 476-0103
WAYS TO GIVE (click here)

Friends of Mueller State Park
P.O. Box 504
Divide, CO 80814
Join Us or Donate (click here) 

Flowers
Another option is to send flowers to someone you love and let them know you were inspired by our Mother. She would have loved the thought of people receiving flowers representing love.