Courtney Elisabeth Doell

Courtney Elisabeth Doell was born Sept 25, 1999, a day we didn’t know would change our lives forever. From the beginning, Courtney was a miracle to our family. At eighteen-months old, we thought we’d lost our precious daughter when she was diagnosed with heart complications and given a slim chance of survival. True to her nature, she fought and surpassed even the grimmest of outcomes and, through God’s grace, stayed with us for twenty more memorable years.

How do you summarize someone like Courtney in just a few words?

First and foremost, she loved God and held strong to her faith. She was a compassionate, nurturing, and affectionate Daughter of God. Courtney loved people and was always the first to help someone in need. She had a special place in her heart for children and developed easy and lasting relationships with all who knew her. She used her talents and God-given gifts to help those around her, always thinking of others and eager to help anyone because, as she had said, she “had so much” in her own life that she wanted to share with others. One of her many God-given gifts was her sense of humor and the way she could make others laugh. She was so funny and full of light; she brought a smile to all who knew her. And she loved animals; particularly her animals. She was always looking for an opportunity to bring more pets into her life and if there was a creature in need, she was sure to find it. If it needed to be bottle-fed, that was an added bonus.

Courtney loved her family with all her heart and soul. One of her favorite past-times was cuddling next to her father, safely and snuggly under his arm, while they laughed at random videos she’d found on the internet. She loved spending time with her dad, especially when collaborating with him to get her beloved dog, Duchess, or her brand-new white Jetta, which happened to be her very first car. And she loved to have someone play with her hair or rub her back. She’d often ask her mother to braid or blow-out her hair, getting in the ‘girl-time’ she loved! She thrived on affection, loved to hug, and was always the first to offer a warm embrace, especially if it was a family member.

Courtney was very close with her siblings and enjoyed spending time with them whenever she could. From a young age when they’d run down the hall dodging tossed pillows while laughing, to finding time to eat out together during their busy schedules, she loved spending time with her brother and sister as much as possible. Especially when going to a place with cheese, the more the better! Courtney took pride in her height and loved being the ‘big little sister’. Many mornings were spent getting coffee, listening to music, and sharing secrets that only siblings could share. And she was always the first to share her love of all things soft and comforting; blankets, socks, or slippers.

Courtney was a fighter from the start of her life until the end. From her heart diagnosis at eighteen months, through her many surgeries which included a heart transplant, she handled her trials with grace. She smiled and laughed her way through the chronic pain and challenges she’d endured in her lifetime. Yet, she never let it slow her down or define her worth. She faced them head on, with a smile on her face and God by her side always.

We acknowledge the blessing, miracle, and pure grace of God that we were given to have Courtney in our lives these many years. Years we never knew we’d have, but time we will cherish always. While we will miss the random framed selfies left around the house, or the hours of TikTok videos and laughter; her beautiful smile, enchanting dimples, amazing blue eyes, and her love of life and God will remain in our hearts forever.

Again, how do you summarize someone like Courtney in a few words?

“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone, the light remains.”