The log in Dr. Verity's 1926 Physicians Daily Visiting List and Records states that:  Dr. Verity delivered Mary May Mackey on November 24, 1926.  The same book states that Mr. Mackey paid $21 for the delivery fee for Mary May.

Mary May Mackey, a lifelong resident of Baca County Colorado, was born November 24, 1926 at her home South of Two Buttes, CO (at the place now known as the "Turk Rutherford Ranch") with Dr. W.P. Verity in attendance.  She was the first child of Charles Seburn and Verona Minnie Nichols Mackey.  She left her earthly home on Saturday May 4, 2019 at Southeast Colorado Hospital in Springfield, CO.  Mary May had brothers Dale Kenneth born 6-10-29, James Albert born 12-23-32 he only lived a couple of months) and little sister Laura Sue born 12-13-46.

Mary May lived various places in Baca County as a youngster but most of the childhood was spent in Two Buttes.  Mary May started first grade at the young age of five at "School 21" which was located southeast of Walsh, CO.  The dust bowl was so bad that her parents moved into Walsh where her Dad worked for the county.  She spent her next 4 years in Walsh where she made many lifelong friends.

During the summers she and Dale would spend time with her grandparents, Jourdan and Nora Mackey who lived north of the Two Buttes Mountain.  While with her grandparents she and Dale would fish in the creek, hunt for neat rocks and arrow heads, picnic and get to go to Lamar.  In 1936 her parents moved to the Two Buttes area where she finished school, graduating High School in 1944 and went one year to Business College in Denver, CO.  She taught school at Lycan, CO in 1945-1946 with an emergency teaching license.  This is where she became more acquainted with James Gourley who would come to school to pick up his two younger brothers, Don and Gene.

James and Mary May were married June 5, 1946 in Syracuse, KS with brother Dale and James's sister Gwen as witnesses.  The honeymoon was spent going to Idaho.  They each a $100.00 bill and didn't have to use Mary May's until they got back to Denver.

Their first house was located east of Two Buttes Mountain in an old dugout in the pasture along the Butte Creek.  They only lived there for several months.  Just east of the dugout was a two-room house with porch where Harley and Gertie Halters lived.  James' Dad bought the place from Halters who then moved to Canyon City, CO and James, Mary May and five-month-old Sandra Lee (born April 25, 1947) moved in September of 1947 to the "Big House".  Dad's mom Fannie and his sister Gwen, helped wall paper the ceiling and the upper ½ of the walls as the lower half was wood.  It had a black cook stove, and they bought a new table and chairs.  In September of 1948 they moved to Two Buttes in the old cream station house, which was bought from Loren and Velma Comer for an old pickup and $2,500.00.  While living here, they always had a mild cow, chickens, two dogs, and several cats.  Mary May and James lived in that house until December of 1979 when they bought a house from Mrs. Mildred Churchill located on the west side of Two Buttes.

Marcella Katherine was born September 13, 1948, Robert Lynn March 5, 1950, Sherry Jo October 10, 1953 and Donna Mae October 13, 1956.  All the children were born in Lamar, CO.

Mary May was a homemaker and kept busy raising her five children.  During their growing up years, she was Sunday School teacher, room mother at school, helped with 4-H, VBS, and enjoyed cooking delicious food and pastries for her family.  After the kids were grown and gone from home, she worked at Walsh Hospital, Two Buttes Grocery Store, janitor at United Methodist Church, wrote the Two Buttes News for 60 plus years, was on the Hospice Board, Town Council, Library Board, a bowling league, Square Dance Club, traveling and spend many hours quilting on quilts with the United Methodist Women for their annual Christmas Bazaar.  Her favorite pastime as she got older was talking on the telephone, crocheting and visiting with their many friends who would stop by.

In 2004 they were honored as Fair Parade Marshalls and enjoyed taking in the county fair and the old settlers picnic every year.

Mary May is preceded in death by her parents Charley and Verona Mackey, her brothers Harold and Dale Mackey, sister Sue Austin, her daughter Sandra Lee Gourley, brothers-in-law Donald Fisher, Paul Bryan, Don Gourley, and Gene Gourley.

Mary May is survived by her husband of almost 73 years James Robert Gourley, her children Marcella and Terry Swanson of Walsh, CO, Bob and Lila Gourley of Two Buttes, CO, Sherry Fisher of Wauconda, IL, Donna Mae and Napoleon Crews of Oswakie, KS and Bud Fisher of Jefferson City, MO.

Grandchildren, great grandchildren and one great great grandchild:  Trina and Steve Falkner, Megan and Rachel of Temecula, CA, Miles and Jen Swanson, Ella, Colin and Aden Swanson of Springfield, CO, Sandy and Mike Perez, Josephine, Verona, Loretto and Eliott of Barrington, IL Brian Wallace, Stella and James of Seattle, WA, Charity and Dustin Carlat and Dylan Carr of Berryton, KS, Jordan and Eli Kemple and Lorelei of Lawrence, KS, Jeremy Wallace and fiancé Sheena Humrichhouse of Lawrence, KS, Mika and Jahmal Moore of Long Beach, MS.

Sisters-in-law:  Gwendie Fisher of Liberal, KS, Betty Bryan of Walsh, CO, Olene Gourley of Walsh, CO, Susan Gourley of Lamar, CO and Brother-in-law Ray Austin of Missouri.

Mary May will also be fondly remembered and dearly missed by many nieces, nephews and of course by a large group of friends.