John M. Gurney ’70, died at age 63 on February 17, 2016. Born March 28, 1952 in Shelby to Dale and Pauline DeVito Gurney, he had been a lifelong Shelby resident. After graduating from SHS, John attended Findlay University and Ohio State University’s Mansfield Branch. He rose to become a Commercial Loan Officer and Vice President of Mechanics Bank where he was awarded the prestigious James A. Courtney Award in 2015 for his excellence in banking.
John was a great man of faith whose main mission in life was to make a difference for Christ in the lives of others. He was an active member, former elder and adult Sunday school teacher for over 20 years at the First Church of God in Shelby. He served as a board member for the Shelby Y Community Center and was a member of the Shelby Rotary Club.
John was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed running, walking and biking. He had been an area basketball referee for 41 years and in 2015 was named the Northern Athletic Conference Official of the Year. He was also inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame in 2015. He was the recipient of the Charles “CW” Williams 6th Man Award in 2016 for his years of dedicated service and commitment to SHS Basketball. He also officiated fifteen OHSAA state tournament basketball games. John was known not only as a quality official, but also a quality individual where his ethics, integrity and character made him a true role model on and off the court.
Surviving John are his loving wife, Jill Wilson Gurney, whom he wed October 5, 1974; three daughters – Jodie (Matt) Dodge of Colorado Springs, CO; Megan (Jason) Wiles of Bangkok, Thailand; Jamie (Justin) Zeger of Mansfield, OH – one son – Jonathan (Mandy) Gurney of Johnstown, OH; five grandchildren – Caleb and Caylie Dodge, Taylor and Tyler Wiles, and Kamdyn Zeger – one brother – Wayne (Karen) Gurney of Shelby.
Nominator: Steve Eyler ’70.