Edward P. Coury, 79, of New Bedford and Nantucket, former 14-year state representative, died early Saturday November 11, 2006. He was the husband of his beloved the late Theresa (Peters) Coury for 52 years.
Mr. Coury is best characterized as a devoted family man. A carpenter by trade, he was elected seven times to the state legislature, representing the 12th Bristol District, then served as a legislative liaison for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. Mr. Coury was a tireless advocate for New Bedford, and was well known to Boston commuters riding the bus.
He fought hard for the city he loved and never let a negative comment go unchecked in the legislature or in the press, where he was often the target of criticism.
Mr. Coury cut quite the interesting figure for many years as he pedaled around the entire city of New Bedford on his motorized trike, complete with canopy. In later years, he was photographed on Nantucket on the very same vehicle. He especially enjoyed selling Christmas trees from the lawn of the family home on County Street, and participating in the numerous summer fairs and parades throughout New Bedford.
A Lebanese-American whose parents were immigrants, Mr. Coury believed in the American dream because he lived it. While in the legislature Mr. Coury fought for his district, the entire City of New Bedford, and especially for people with disabilities.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Purgatory Maronite Catholic Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Coury loved spending time with his grandchildren, whether at their homes, in New Bedford, or at the family¹s compound on Nantucket, where he had been a regular visitor for more than 50 years.
He is survived by his five children, Nadine, Pamela and Edward Coury of New Bedford, Melissa Cote, her husband Paul, and their four children, Kaffa, Anissa, Jarad and Amara of NH, Jennifer Kendall, her husband Kevin, and their two children, Cooper and Daniel of CT; his siblings, John Coury of Westport, Lucienne Rodriguez of New Bedford, and Flora Azar of Dartmouth; and many loving nephews and nieces.
He was the son of the late Nabeeha and Antone J. Coury, and the brother of the late Sarah Guerra and Tillie Thomas.
The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 AM in Our Lady of Purgatory Church. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.