He was in the United States Navy during World War II, serving as a Petty Officer First Class Radioman aboard the destroyer escort Earl K Olson.

[2] At this time, he moved to Independence, Missouri, where the headquarters of the RLDS Church were located.

[5] At this time, Smith appointed Couey to succeed Reed M. Homes as the Presiding Patriarch of the RLDS Church.

[5] In April 1992, he was released from this calling and retired from full-time ecclesiastical service.

Couey was also a theologian, administrator and mentor to many of the younger church appointees.