John M. Gurney

John M. Gurney, age 63, died Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at the Hospice House in Ashland. 

Born March 28, 1952 in Shelby, Ohio, to Dale and Pauline (DeVito) Gurney, he had been a lifelong Shelby resident. A 1970 graduate of Shelby High School, he attended Findlay University and The Ohio State University Mansfield Branch. He was a Commercial Loan Officer and Vice President of Mechanics Bank where he was awarded the prestigious James A. Courtney Award in 2015 for his excellence in banking.

John was a great man of faith, whose main mission in life was to make a difference for Christ in the lives of others. He was an active member, former elder and adult Sunday School teacher for over 20 years at the First Church of God in Shelby. He served as a board member for the Shelby Y Community Center and was a member of the Shelby Rotary Club.

John was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed running, walking and biking. He had been an area basketball referee for 41 years and in 2015 was named the Northern Athletic Conference Official of the Year. He was also inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame in 2015. He was the recipient of the Charles "CW" Williams 6th Man Award in 2016 for his years of dedicated service and commitment to Shelby Basketball. He also officiated fifteen OHSAA State Basketball games. John was known not only to be a quality official, but also a quality individual where his ethics, integrity, and character made him a true role model on and off the court. 

John is survived by his loving wife, Jill (Wilson) Gurney, whom he wed October 5, 1974; three daughters, Jodie (Matt) Dodge of Colorado Springs, CO, Megan (Jason) Wiles of Bangkok, Thailand, Janie (Justin) Zeger of Mansfield, OH; one son Jonathan (Mandy) Gurney of Johnstown, OH; five grandchildren, Caleb and Caylie Dodge, Taylor and Tyler Wiles, and Kamdyn Zeger; one brother Wayne (Karen) Gurney of Shelby; two half-sisters, Delores Kimes of Lexington, Martha Holden of Lakeland, FL; one half-sister-in-law Ruby Gurney of Shelby; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. 

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his half-brother Carl Gurney; and two half-brothers-in-law, Paul Kimes and Larry Holden.

A celebration of John's life will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, March 5, 2016 at the Shelby First Church of God located at 3616 State Route 39, Shelby, OH 44875. Friends may call at the church Friday, March 4, 2016, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial expressions be made in the form of a donation to Shelby First Church of God at 3616 State Route 39, Shelby, OH 44875; Shelby Help line Ministries at 29 Walnut St, Shelby, OH 44875; and Hospice of North Central Ohio at 1050 Dauch Dr., Ashland, OH 44805.

 Service Information