After a long illness, the Lord called Magdaline Rose Gurley from her earthly home to her heavenly home on August 17, 2017 at the age of 93 years. She was born to Hardin Roger Hammond and Edna Magdaline (Johnson) Hammond at home near Chalk Level, Missouri on January 14, 1924 and was the oldest of 3 children
She attended Pleasant Valley country school and Lowry City High School graduating with the class of 1942
Maggie, as she was fondly called, experienced many changes in her lifetime. On February 25, 1942 she was united in marriage to Ralph Louis Gurley. To this union 3 sons and 1 daughter were born. She spent her entire life in the Ohio community she so loved.
On November 23, 1957 she was baptized and became a member of the Ohio Christian Church where she served faithfully for 60 years. She was also a member of the Ohio Christian Church Ladies Aid for 51 years. The funds raised from their hand quilting contributed to the needs of the church and the friendships made lasted a lifetime.
Ralph and Maggie farmed their entire married life. She kept busy growing and preserving bountiful gardens, raising hundreds of chickens and cooking for hay hands. She sewed clothes for her children and enjoyed crocheting and creating beautiful quilts. She was well known for her love of birds and for her green thumb growing beautiful flowers. At age 63, she took up painting on canvas. She enjoyed the painting classes and created some beautiful pictures. She also became a member of the St. Clair County Quilt Guild.
Maggie loved her coffee in the morning and her hot tea in the evening. The kids and grandkids always asked for her “special” popcorn, cookies, fried potatoes and homemade noodles. She loved when her kids and grandkids dropped by. She was so interested in their lives and what they were doing. When it came time to leave, she would give a hug and always an order to “be careful”.
The family was thankful she was well enough to attend the July 4, 2017 Gurley Reunion. She said several times, “It was just a perfect day!” Maggie’s favorite times were when the whole family gathered together. She loved watching the little ones play, hearing the stories and all the laughter guaranteed to be present.
Maggie supported Ralph’s Gideon ministry and enjoyed the fellowship with the other Gideon wives. She said she felt blessed having the Lord in her life, for his plan of salvation and for having the Bible as her guidebook. She felt the peace and comfort that comes from knowing Him. She said her faith helped her endure the things in life she could not change.
Maggie was preceded in death by her husband Ralph; son, David; and granddaughter, Sharon Kay Gurley; sister, Clarice Foster, parents and infant brother.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Linda Gurley, her children Barbara (Jim) Knight, Karen (Wayne) Torrence and Mike (Tannen) Gurley; daughter, Linda (John Jr.) Lysinger, their children, Julie (Josh) Russell, Janet (Bill) Green and Jill (Jared) Wareham; son, Lonnie Gurley, his children, Pam McGoldrick, Jodie Gurley and Cody Gurley; son Roger (Lisa) Gurley, their children, Rosanna (Steven) Cross, Daniel (Megan) Gurley and Nicolette Gurley; 18 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends.
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