Obituary of James Otis Gourley

James Otis Gourley, age 95 of Gallatin, passed away Friday, October 2, 2020. Graveside Service, with Military Honors, will be Monday, October 5th at 2:00 p.m. at Historic Gallatin Cemetery, with Rev. Malcolm Patton and Rev. James Johnson officiating. Honoring him as pallbearers are Larry Salyer, Curtis Malone, Allen Parks, David Schreiner, Cameron Crutcher, Jason Jones, and Michael Carman. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Gallatin First United Methodist Church, 149 West Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066 or Gallatin Lions Club, P.O. Box 912, Gallatin, TN 37066. Mr. Gourley was born March 24, 1925 in Goodlettsville, TN to the late Hurley Sumner Gourley and Willie Louise Bowers Gourley. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 74 years, Juanita Brown Wise Gourley, both of whom were members of the Gallatin First United Methodist Church; brothers, Lawrence Milton Gourley, Hurley Allison Gourley, and Floyd Ellis Gourley; and sister, Mary Louise Gourley Warren. He is survived by daughters, Jamie Gourley Reeves (B. Eugene) of Glendale, CA and Margaret Gourley Rowan (Stephen) of Murfreesboro, TN; brothers, Ronald Gourley (Klaudine) of Hendersonville and Harold Gene Gourley (Mindy) of Georgia; sisters, Diana Gourley Mundy of Hendersonville, Juanita Gourley Jordan of Hendersonville, and Elizabeth Gourley Dorris of Virginia; 5 grandchildren, Lauren Leigh Reeves, Brittany Leigh Jones (Jason), Margaret Christina Carman (Michael), John Paul Rowan, and Victoria Raynor (Matthew); 4 great grandchildren, Carson James McGuire, Lane Allen Jones, Fallon Blake Wise Carman, and Harrison Wayne Carman; and goddaughter, Janet Gourley Puhl. James was the second oldest of 10 children. He served our country in the United States Army in the Philippines and Marshall Islands during World War II. Mr. Gourley was a local businessman and real estate developer, being instrumental in the development of Christian Towers, serving as President and Chairman of the Board for 17 years and now holds the honor of Chairman Emeritus. James worked for Genesco Corporation for nearly 30 years, managing three factories and named Genesco Man of the Year. He founded Gallatin Oil Company and Gallatin Petroleum Incorporated. He was a member of the Lions Club since 1948, starting 27 Lions Clubs in the State of Tennessee and received numerous local and national service awards, as District Governor and International Counselor. In 2010, he was inducted in to the Tennessee Lions Hall of Fame. Mr. Gourley was past Master of Masonic Lodge #618 and Order of the Eastern Star. He served on numerous boards including Buffalo District and Camp Boxwell for Boy Scouts, McKendree Lambuth, The Ed Lindsay Industries for the Blind, Lions Eye Bank at Vanderbilt Hospital, and the Christian Senior Housing Foundation, as well as charter board member of the Gallatin Shalom Zone. Mr. Gourley was awarded the Presidential Legion of Merit from President George Bush, Sr. He was extremely active at American Legion Post #17 in Gallatin, serving as commander for over 4 years. Online condolences may be submitted at familyheritagefh.com. Family Heritage Funeral Home has been honored to assist the family.