Philip L. GOURLEY

GOURLEY, GALLOWAY, NALAN, HANLEY, WOODWARD, ENTNER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/17/2013 at 14:11:52

December 9, 1932 --- October 11, 2004

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Philip L. Gourley passed away on Monday (Oct. 11, 2004) after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was 71. Phil was born Dec. 9, 1932, on a farm near Corwith, Iowa, the sixth of seven children born to Elry Clifton and Austa Ellen (Galloway) Gourley. On Dec. 29, 1951, Phil married Lucretia (Cretia) Nalan. They have three sons, Chris, Gregg, and Brett. Phil served 20 years in the United States Air Force, and while stationed in Hawaii, earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Chaminade College. Phil retired as a master sergeant in 1971. In 1972, Phil and family moved to Ames, where Phil served as the head of data processing for the city. In 1979, Phil and Cretia moved to Yuma, Ariz., where he was hired as the data processing director for the City of Yuma. Phil retired from the city in 1995. After retirement, Phil and Cretia traveled extensively in the U.S. and Canada. Phil enjoyed fishing and golf and was a lover of life. He loved his family and anyone who knew Phil loved him. Recently Phil and Cretia moved to Goodyear, Ariz., where the family spent the last days of his life together. Phil is survived by his wife, Cretia, of Goodyear, Ariz.; sons, Chris (Kathy) of Johnston, Iowa, Gregg of Ames, and Brett of Glendale, Ariz.; grandchildren, Jonathan and Ryan Gourley, and Brooke Hanley; sisters, Mary Woodward, of Rockford, Iowa and Phyllis Entner, of Clear Lake, Iowa; and brother Verlyn (Verna) of Mason City; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Clifton, Leroy, and Richard. Phil will be laid to rest in Mason City, Iowa. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 1405 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Mason City, Iowa . Burial will be at 2 p.m. with military rites at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your local hospice.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
October 21, 2004