Courtney ‘Mac’ McCourt (aka Michael Murphy), 72, of Haverhill, MA joined the Lord on October 16, 2026 in Boston.

He was preceded in death by his beloved adoptive parents Lieutenant Colonel Joseph McCourt and his wife Clare of NY, as well as his birth mother Peggie Murphy of Castle Warden, County Kildare, Ireland.

He is survived by his partner Emma Pratt of Haverhill, MA; survived by his daughter Danielle Deschambault of Saco, ME, son Christopher (Colleen) McCourt of Boston, granddaughter Emma, grandson Pierce, sister Shannon (Stephen) Messina of Phoenix, AZ, brother Charles Drake of London as well as many treasured cousins and relations in Ireland and England.

Courtney was born June 3, 1954 in Dublin, Ireland and raised on U.S. Air Force bases. After his father retired from the military, the family settled in Yonkers, New York. There he attended local private Catholic schools, graduating from Sacred Heart High School.

Feeling a deep sense of honor and patriotism, he proudly served his country in two branches of the military. He began his journey with the U.S. Marine Corps, serving honorably before returning to civilian life. After a short hiatus and driven by a continued desire to serve his country, he later answered the call once more, enlisting in the U.S. Navy where he completed his military career with a second honorable discharge.

In his hometown of Yonkers, he was an immediate hit with everybody he met. Either just listening to or making music by “jamming” with friends, going to many concerts, and camping trips, he made many lifelong friendships in New York. After re-enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he made wonderful, lifelong friendships in New England as well.

When his children were young, some of his happiest moments were spent at the beach. You could always find him parked in his beach chair, right where the waves met the sand, basking in the sun with his trusted boombox playing his favorite tunes. He was the ultimate teammate when they made sandcastles, always going all out to build something spectacular. He patiently allowed the kids bury him in the sand right up to his neck, and enjoyed every minute of it!

He loved many different kinds of music, especially jazz, southern rock, blues and more, and had a talent for playing the drums. On Sunday mornings while he made breakfast for his children, you could count on jazz always being played in the background.

He had a deep passion for sports and dedicated many years to mentoring young athletes as a high school and youth football coach in Maine for several different teams, such as Traip Academy, Sanford High School, Maine Sabers, Notre Dame Cobras and Sanford Youth Football. In addition to coaching football, he shared that same competitive spirit and heart while coaching several basketball and baseball teams.

Guiding his children through the creative chaos of Science Fair projects was an eagerly anticipated routine, a chance to foster their curiosity while making lasting memories. He approached these projects with a highly methodical hand, having things a certain way to ensure every display and experiment was kept neat and just so. His son Chris won 1st place twice; one for the Mystery of Flight and the other was for lenses focusing on the eye. Additionally, one year his daughter Danielle won 3rd place for the construction of pyramids.

With his good-looks and undeniable charisma, it’s no wonder Courtney’s sister Shannon often heard the cliché, “The women want him; the men want tobe him.” They shared many fond and extremely funny memories, from childhood antics to a lifetime of inside jokes. He loved visiting her in NYC, most often with his children. They established a cherished routine -- riding the Circle Line, visiting Ellis Island and standing before the Statue of Liberty, walking around Manhattan, finally going to an Italian restaurant. No matter how many times they repeated the journey, the tradition never lost its charm and the city never got old to him. They would head back to Shannon’s apartment, where they would then stay up late, talking and reminiscing for hours, trying to not wake the children with their laughter.

He was overjoyed to have recently discovered and connected with his biological family. A highlight of his journey was a trip to Ireland with his girlfriend Emma, where he met his uncle, aunt and cousins for the first time. He was deeply moved by the experience, as they welcomed him into the fold with open arms, genuine warmth and unconditional love.

Courtney was an incredibly proud veteran who carried the spirit and culture of Ireland in his heart. The world will undoubtedly be a little dimmer without his light.

Service information will be announced. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com