Mary Alice Curtis Gourley
March 10, 1940 — August 7, 2022
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Mary Alice Curtis Gourley
Mary Alice Curtis Gourley passed away August 7, 2022, at the age of 82 in her home in West Jordan, Utah surrounded by her loving husband and children. She was born March 10, 1940, in Salt Lake City, Utah; the daughter of Alexander Raine and Elaine Broadbent Curtis. Mary is the middle of five children Patricia Rae Belnap (Vaughn), Carol Jean Delbridge (Stan), Thomas Ray Curtis (Suzanne), and Jody Bailey (Mike). She is preceded in death by her two older siblings and their spouses.
On June 10, 1960, she married the love of her life, Michael Helge Gourley. Over the next 10 years, Mike and Mary welcomed five children: Mary Michelle Gourley (Karen), Terresa Jean Lords (Brian), Elayne Kimberly Lambertsen (Scott), Michael Helge Gourley, Jr. (Amanda), and Heather Lyn Neilson (Shawn). Mary has 17 cherished grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren (with 4 more on the way).
Mary was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in which she served faithfully in a number of callings including Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, Primary Chorister, Organist and Temple Ordinance worker at the Jordan River Temple. Alongside her husband, Mary also served as a host at the Salt Lake Temple Square and Conference Center.
Mary was a gifted pianist, who performed numerous classical and contemporary pieces, and who often accompanied her children and others as they sang and played their various instruments. In 1994, Mary was one of four women who authored the book “Children’s Songbook Companion” - known as “the most complete and versatile resource available to help musicians and non-musicians alike to teach children the gospel through music and song.”
Mary was a talented seamstress and teacher, who taught countless students to play the piano and learn to sew. She also enjoyed camping, fishing, target shooting, snowmobiling, water skiing, playing cards, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sports activities and musical performances. She even won first place in the woman’s division of the 1985 Bonneville Regional Championship high power rifle match and raced snowmobiles competitively. Above all else, Mary enjoyed simply spending time with her husband and family at their home, their cabin, or their lake house.
Mary had an amazing capacity to love unconditionally and provide warmth and service to others. She found joy in the little things and was a quiet example of enduring support and compassion. She brought joy and kindness to countless family, friends and whomever had the fortunate opportunity to cross her path. She was beautiful both inside and out – “An elect lady” as her husband would often say; truly a woman of love and grace.
Mary was a genuine joy to be with. Her smile and soft giggle were infectious, and her love and compassion were endless. And despite all the challenges she faced toward the end of her life, she never lost her playfulness, the light in her face and eyes, the warmth of her smile, her deep connection to her husband and family, and her enduring love for music.
Funeral services will be held in Mary’s honor on Saturday, August 13 at 11:00 am at the Mountain View Third Ward church located at 2901 West 9000 South, West Jordan, Utah. Interment will follow at the West Jordan City Cemetery, located at 7925 south 1300 West, West Jordan. Family and friends may visit before the funeral services begin from 9:30 – 10:45 am. Funeral services will also be available livestream via zoom at:
https://zoom.us/j/96719619086?pwd=SDdZOUFBbndmRW54MkxwTC9MZGtVQT09
Meeting ID: 967 1961 9086
Passcode: 374818
The Gourley family would like to thank Dr. Sara Wells for her exceptional personal medical service and nurse Rita Labrea from Charter Health Care Hospice for her tender care of our sweet mother. They would also like to express their deep appreciation for their neighbor and friend Karen Armbruster for her hours of attentive and caring service to both Mary and her husband.
In lieu of flowers please make a memorial gift donation to the Utah Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or to the General Missionary Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at: donations.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
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On June 10, 1960, she married the love of her life, Michael Helge Gourley. Over the next 10 years, Mike and Mary welcomed five children: Mary Michelle Gourley (Karen), Terresa Jean Lords (Brian), Elayne Kimberly Lambertsen (Scott), Michael Helge Gourley, Jr. (Amanda), and Heather Lyn Neilson (Shawn). Mary has 17 cherished grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren (with 4 more on the way).
Mary was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in which she served faithfully in a number of callings including Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, Primary Chorister, Organist and Temple Ordinance worker at the Jordan River Temple. Alongside her husband, Mary also served as a host at the Salt Lake Temple Square and Conference Center.
Mary was a gifted pianist, who performed numerous classical and contemporary pieces, and who often accompanied her children and others as they sang and played their various instruments. In 1994, Mary was one of four women who authored the book “Children’s Songbook Companion” - known as “the most complete and versatile resource available to help musicians and non-musicians alike to teach children the gospel through music and song.”
Mary was a talented seamstress and teacher, who taught countless students to play the piano and learn to sew. She also enjoyed camping, fishing, target shooting, snowmobiling, water skiing, playing cards, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sports activities and musical performances. She even won first place in the woman’s division of the 1985 Bonneville Regional Championship high power rifle match and raced snowmobiles competitively. Above all else, Mary enjoyed simply spending time with her husband and family at their home, their cabin, or their lake house.
Mary had an amazing capacity to love unconditionally and provide warmth and service to others. She found joy in the little things and was a quiet example of enduring support and compassion. She brought joy and kindness to countless family, friends and whomever had the fortunate opportunity to cross her path. She was beautiful both inside and out – “An elect lady” as her husband would often say; truly a woman of love and grace.
Mary was a genuine joy to be with. Her smile and soft giggle were infectious, and her love and compassion were endless. And despite all the challenges she faced toward the end of her life, she never lost her playfulness, the light in her face and eyes, the warmth of her smile, her deep connection to her husband and family, and her enduring love for music.
Funeral services will be held in Mary’s honor on Saturday, August 13 at 11:00 am at the Mountain View Third Ward church located at 2901 West 9000 South, West Jordan, Utah. Interment will follow at the West Jordan City Cemetery, located at 7925 south 1300 West, West Jordan. Family and friends may visit before the funeral services begin from 9:30 – 10:45 am. Funeral services will also be available livestream via zoom at:
https://zoom.us/j/96719619086?pwd=SDdZOUFBbndmRW54MkxwTC9MZGtVQT09
Meeting ID: 967 1961 9086
Passcode: 374818
The Gourley family would like to thank Dr. Sara Wells for her exceptional personal medical service and nurse Rita Labrea from Charter Health Care Hospice for her tender care of our sweet mother. They would also like to express their deep appreciation for their neighbor and friend Karen Armbruster for her hours of attentive and caring service to both Mary and her husband.
In lieu of flowers please make a memorial gift donation to the Utah Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or to the General Missionary Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at: donations.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
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