The Spanish Flu of 1918 gripped the nation the year that James Robert Gourley was born in the dugout home of his grandparents, Andrew Jackson (A.J.) and Flora Ann Solomon (Lusk) Flanagan, eighteen miles northwest of Texhoma, OK.  James died during another pandemic, Covid-19, June 30, 2020. He was unaware of the fact that there was a pandemic occurring both times.  James Robert was the first child of Montie Robert and Fannie McCord (Flanagan) Gourley born on September 10, 1918. His parents lived on the 320-acre homestead twelve miles northeast of the town of Two Buttes, CO.  He always said that he moved to Baca County when he was one year old. Being a lifelong resident of Baca County, James grew up in the Lycan community, east of Two Buttes, CO. As a baby/youth he lived in the 10-foot x 20-foot dugout his father had dug with a shovel in 1913.

James started school at age five and walked the one-half mile to Homestead School (NW of their house) for grades 1 ^st through 4 ^th . He attended Old Lycan School, 1 ½ miles East of New Lycan District 67 from 5 ^th grade through 7 ^th grade, riding a horse to school. James went to New Lycan School, a one room building with a barn and two outhouses, through 11th grade and was given a ride each day in a car. His senior year he lived with a family in Springfield and graduated from Springfield High School in 1936. He was in the first class of the Junior College of Southeast Colorado at Lamar, 1937-1938.  Due to illness he didn't graduate until 1940. He then attended Amarillo Business College in the fall of 1940 and March 15,1942 he joined the US Army Air Force. He was discharged August 19, 1945 serving his country both in the United States and overseas. While flying as a crew member with the 483 ^rd Bomb Group Squadron on their 48 ^th mission over Vienna, Austria, their plane encountered anti-aircraft fire in route to the target and the B-17 bomber they were assigned to had to crash-landed as a result of low fuel and knocked out instruments. The crew landed in a snowed covered field in Yugoslavia. They were rescued by the Cvijanovic Family who kept them safe from the enemy for seventy days. The crew was reunited with the Air Force in Italy. For his heroic service, James was awarded many medals and honors.

James met Mary May Mackey while she was teaching school in Lycan, CO. She had grown up in Baca County graduating from Two Buttes High School and a business college in Denver, CO. They were married June 5, 1946 in Syracuse, KS and celebrated 72 years of marriage. Together they raised five children, Sandra Lee, Marcella Katherine, Robert Lynn, Sherry Jo and Donna Mae. They were blessed with 7 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren.

James' life work was ranching and farming in the Two Buttes Area. He retired at 89, rented his farm to his son Bob and enjoyed small town living.  James was the Two Buttes Town Clerk for many years, was on the Peoples Credit Union Board, ASCS board, Grange, Lodge, and various United Methodist Church committees. James was active in the community and while their children were growing up, he was a leader, volunteer and supporter of all school and 4-H activities. He and Mary May spent their golden years entertaining family and friends, square dancing, attending grandchildren's activities, traveling, watching TV (old westerns) and enjoying life with each other.

James was preceded in death by his lifelong wife and companion Mary May, his daughter Sandra Lee, his parents, three brothers baby Harold, Don and Gene, brothers-in-law Donald Fisher, Paul Bryan, and Dale Mackey and sister-in-law Laura Sue Mackey Austin. He will be greatly missed by his daughter Marcella and Terry Swanson of Walsh, CO, son Bob and Lila Gourley of Two Buttes, CO, daughter Sherry Fisher of Wauconda, IL and Bud Fisher of Jefferson City, MO, daughter Donna Mae (Brooke) and Napoleon Crews of Ozwakie, KS and all their children and grandchildren. He leaves to mourn, two sisters Gwendolena Fisher of Liberal, KS and Betty Jo Bryan of Walsh, CO, sisters-in-law Olene Gourley of Walsh, CO and Susan Gourley of Lamar, CO, brother-in-law Ray Austin of MO and all his many nieces, nephews and friends over his 101 years of life.