Harriett Helen Huston Gurley, 88, died December 8, 2007, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mrs. Gurley was born on Winfield, Kansas, on July 28, 1919, and moved to Blackwell when her father accepted a job as a high school teacher and coach. Mr. Huston was later appointed high school principal and superintendent for many years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Kittie Huston, her husband, John Gurley, and her brother, James, all of Blackwell. Mrs. Gurley's husband, John, died in 1975. He was a Blackwell attorney who also served as the city attorney. They met in junior high school and were high school sweethearts, marrying in 1941.

Mrs. Gurley is survived by her daughter, Dianne, and son-in-law, Jim Braden, Phoenix, AZ; her son, John Richard, and daughter-in-law, Jill Gurley, Blackwell; and her sister, Mary Huston Burgus, of Oregon. Her grandchildren are Tyler, Hunter, Brandon and wife Jennifer Gurley of North Carolina; Richard and wife, Lori Braden, Blackwell. Her great grandchildren are Ashley Gurley, Chandler Wilson, Nicole and Rachel Gurley of North Carolina, and Madalyn and Cooper Braden, Blackwell. In addition, she is survived by her nieces and nephews, James and Sue Ann Rodgers, Blackwell; Bill and Linda Rodgers, Oklahoma City; Linda and Dale Crabtree, Oklahoma City; Nancy and Jim Yoch, Norman; and Peggy Burgess and Harriett and Doug Turley, Oregon City, Oregon.

One of Mrs. Gurley's first appearances in Blackwell was in the Blackwell High School yearbook of 1919. Her picture was featured in the book that noted the birth of Principal Harry Huston's first child. She was a 1937 graduate of Blackwell High School and received her BA degree from Oklahoma State University. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and P.E.O. She volunteered in her community, often working with her mother for the Red Cross and Blackwell General Hospital. She was an accomplished bridge player and enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad, always collecting unique items from her travels. Mrs. Gurley adored her home in Woodland Park, Colorado and loved the mountain views from her "cabin." She is remembered by her family for her candid charm, her positive spirit, and generosity. Even in the last difficult weeks of her life, she charmed her caregivers.

A memorial service for Mrs. Gurley will be held on December 17th, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel, 120 W. Padon Ave. in Blackwell.

A memorial has been established to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation - Cancer Research in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home.

The family will be receiving friends following the service at the home of Jim and Sue Ann Rodgers, 944 N. 6th Street in Blackwell.