Courtis Saunders, Jr. of Reading passed away on June 8, 2017. He was 89 years of age. He was the beloved husband of the late Dorothy J. (Amendola) Saunders. Devoted Father of William C. Saunders of Reading, Robert P. Saunders and Diane of Wenham, Jean S. Claflin and her husband Mark of Lynnfield and Richard S. Saunders of Reading. Loving grandfather of Kelsey and Leigh Claflin. Courtis is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, June 14 at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn St.) Reading from 4:00-7:00PM. Funeral services and burial are private. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Courtis' memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute 10 Brookline Place West, Floor 6 Brookline, MA 02445-9924. Memo line: Pancreatic Cancer Research Dept. Veteran of WW II, U.S. Army.