Moretta Olene McCauley Gourley was born on July 21, 1931 to Mason and Bessie Newman McCauley at Vian, Oklahoma and passed away on July 26, 2026 in Walsh, Colorado at the age of 95. She was one of eight children born to this union. Olene began her education in Sallisaw, Oklahoma and continued there through her sophomore year of high school. It was then that the family moved to Walsh, Colorado. She completed high school and graduated in 1950.

On September 24, 1950, Olene married the love of her life, Donald Clifton Gourley. Olene had given her life to Jesus at a young age. After she and Don were married they followed the Lord in baptism at the First Baptist Church. Reverend Ernest Marion baptized them.

The family grew to include Billy Lee (1951), Donetta Marie (1953), Janette Faye (1955), Clifton Ray (1958). The Gourley’s were always self-employed as farmers and ranchers. Olene served her family by cooking, cleaning, sewing and doing whatever needed to be done to keep the household running smoothly. She ran errands for the farm. During harvest she took the big meal out to the field to serve for lunch, at supper time she would take out sandwiches. Of course, there were always delicious desserts – cakes, pies, cookies and the like.

Olene was an amazing hostess to her friends and neighbors who would come for cookouts and homemade ice cream. Always a good fulfilling meal. No one ever went away hungry.

Olene loved to keep busy and have fun. She was a member of several different clubs and Bible studies. She loved to play games. She and some of her other widowed friends formed a game night. They played marbles, dominoes, Skipbo and a big variety of different games. They would also go out to lunch one day a week. Olene took up quilting later in life. She loved quilting and made many, many quilts. She was always wanting us to help her figure out how many she had made. Most of the children and grandchildren and even some of the great grandchildren received a quilt from Grandma. She loved to sew. She would sew dresses for herself and her daughters. She was still sewing up until March of this year. Most of the time laughter is the best medicine. Olene loved to tell funny stories she had heard or read. She would start laughing so hard she could barely finish her story.

Our family was always actively involved in church. Our parents were charter members of the Southeast Colorado Child Evangelism Fellowship, and were members of Gideons International for almost 54 years. Lifelong friendships were formed through these endeavors.

They took us to church Sunday morning and Sunday night, Wednesday prayer meeting and youth group when we got older. We also had devotions at breakfast every day from the Daily Bread devotional. We did not have a television until 1972, so we gathered around the radio lots of nights to listen to various pastors. When Billy Graham would have a televised crusade, our very special neighbor, Elsie Griffin would invite us over to her house to watch on her TV.

Don and Olene were very hospitable people. Any missionaries, pastors, or special guests were always welcome to come for Sunday dinner. Sunday lunch was always a tradition and Mom kept that tradition going for as long as she was able. Always inviting people over to eat. Several family members who lived near would stop in and have lunch. I remember how much joy that brought her. A memory that lingers with me is that she was always looking forward to lunch time when Housten would be able to have lunch with her, when he was working at John Deere. She relied on Blake a lot, too. She always had something “fun” for him to do.

Olene loved gardening and taking care of her flowers and yard. In the years her kids were growing up, she/we churned our own butter and milked our own cows. She canned the produce from her garden, with help, of course!

Olene loved her siblings and often told stories of the fun activities they participated in. Her parents played games with them as well; a tradition that carried on to include the grandchildren. When we all gathered at our grandparents’ home the whole family would go outside and play Red Rover, Red Light Green Light, Simon Says, baseball, jump rope with a big tow type rope-many different games. When we tired of the games or sometimes instead of the games we would go inside, gather around the piano and play and sing Gospel songs. There was never a dull moment. So many good memories!

Olene is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren.

Bill (Janet) Gourley

Billy (Amy) Gourley, Housten (Jayeden) Gourley, Chloe, Lukas, Ryker and Tristan, Harley Gourley

(Zach) and Paxton, Hadley Gourley.

Bradley Gourley (fiancée – Gina Blecha)

Brendon (Meghann) Gourley, Cade, Sofie, Allie and Camryn Gourley.

Bridget (Tyler) Schmidt, Lydia, Maverick and Rosie Schmidt.

Hope (Kenneth) Frame, Kialyn, Kenzly, Kolt Granger and Kymber Frame.

MyKaylee (Rachael) Nelson, Beckham Nelson.

Montie Gourley.

Janet’s children; Tiffany, Melissa, Liz, Luke, Mark and Jon.

Donetta (Dale) Willhite

Zoey (Russel) Griffin, Aislyn (Seth) Walters, Jackson, Griffin and Gunner Walters, Keziah, Rizpah,

Hadessah, Zadok, Nasya, Atretes and Selah Griffin.

Kara Davis, Hayden (Nakayah) Davis, Maeve and Islah Davis, Jayd (Jonathan) Rink, Nathan Davis.

Dakota “Cody” Elwin, Emmie and Alethea Elwin.

Janette (Fred) Wilson

Danica (Robbie) Yost, Kelby, Asher, Piper, Kylan and Camdyn Yost.

Danessa (Kelly) Nightengale, Delaney, Kate and Taya Nightengale.

Deidra (Jeremey) Crotinger, Emily Carr and family, Caleb, Logan, Jake and Carter Crotinger.

D’Ambra (Clint) Tipton, Byron and Lucy Tipton.

Clifton (Fara) Gourley

Desirae Mundell, Reece, Grady and Cooper Mundell.

Blake (Chelsea) Gourley, Maddox, Hudson, Mayz, Ireland and Tirzah Gourley.

Kristy Gourley.

Also Surviving:

Sisters – Nancy (Don) Watson, Lenora Wray.

Sisters-in-law – Margaret McCauley, Betty Bryan, and Susan Gourley.

Special friends/family – Rick and Bonnie Olson.

Nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.

Preceding her in death was her beloved husband Don as well as her parents, Mason and Bessie McCauley, father-in-law and mother-in-law Monte Robert Gourley, Fannie and Glenn Fowler; Sister-Reba Ellis; Brothers – Charles “C.B.” McCauley, James McCauley, Thomas (Tom) McCauley; Sisters-in-law – Carol McCauley, Trulene McCauley, Gwendolena Fisher, Mary May Gourley; Brothers-in-law – Harlan Ellis, Paul Wray, James Gourley, Donald Fisher, Paul Bryan, Gene Gourley.