Dr. Maurice Nickola Courie, 91, died June 30 leaving a loving family, countless friends and thousands of babies he delivered in his obstetrics practice in Raleigh,

Mo was born Jan. 10, 1933, in Kinston, the son of Nickola F. and Mayre P. Courie. His parents and brother Mittrey predeceased him. His sisters, Dolores Collins and Janiece Wall survive him.

Family and friends will tell you that Mo was a force of nature with a very big heart. He was tall, commanding, and some found him intimidating -- but he was a softie who regularly did for others without ever telling anyone.

He had a wicked sense of humor and never wanted for a good wisecrack. If he teased you regularly or gave you a nickname – that meant he loved you.
Mo was the ultimate curmudgeon, with an opinion on just about everything. And he was not shy about sharing those thoughts, especially in his letters to the editors of The Raleigh Times and The News & Observer.

He was strongly supportive of his children and their dreams. He told them they could be anything they wanted and taught them to stand up for themselves. When he had a job to do at home, he would enlist one of his children as his “assistant” and teach them the particulars of how to do things. Family vacations were always an experience to be remembered but one long-ago trip to Disney World inspired son Jon to work for the Walt Disney Company.

Mo loved to listen to – and share – all kinds of music. He and his wife of 62 years, Bobbi, were generous supporters of the arts and culture in Raleigh, especially the North Carolina Symphony. His musical tastes were eclectic. He once surprised his granddaughter by suggesting they listen together to his copy of Santana’s Abraxas.

He also loved golf and gardening, and not necessarily in that order.

He was a longtime member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Raleigh, serving on Vestry, the Rector Search Committee and the Capital Campaign Committee, among others. He dedicated countless volunteer hours to keeping the church grounds mown and the flowers thriving, all under the shade of his trademark straw hat. The church staff will miss his regular visits, dropping by to chat, gossip and tell corny jokes.

A 1959 graduate of Duke University, he was past president and an active member of the F. Bayard Carter Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Among numerous committees and boards, he was a member of the Wake County and North Carolina medical societies, and was past OB-GYN chief and president of the medical staff at Rex Hospital. He began in private practice in Raleigh 1966 and retired in 2002.

In addition to his wife, Barbara “Bobbi” Otis Courie, and his sisters, he is survived by son Jon Courie (Roy Braeger) of Glendale, Calif.; and daughters Anne Courie Meulink (Marco) and Nicole Courie (James Knott), both of Raleigh; grandchildren Annika and Shannon Meulink, and Stella Knott; and his loving caregivers, Mandy Sandri, Florence Serem, Megan Hauber and Christine Waltz.

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 8, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1520 Canterbury Road, Raleigh, with the Rev. Holly Gloff officiating. A private interment – Mo asked to be interred in his favorite antique Scotch bottle, which is shaped like a well-stocked golf bag -- will follow in St. Michael’s Memorial Garden.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh; or to St. Michael’s music program.