Obituary for Eleanor C. Adams Gourley, wife of Thomas Gourley (Thomas was a cousin of our 4x great grandfather Henry) Jefferson County, PA Newspaper, 1888 Mrs. Thomas Gourley. Mrs. Eleanor C. Gourley, wife of Thomas Gourley, of Perry township, died on Friday, April 20 [1888], aged 81 years, one month and four days. Mrs. Gourley came with her husband to the farm in Perry township on which she lived at the time of her death, in 1835 [sic], and so for over fifty years she lived in the one community. The attendance at her funeral, and the kindly words heard on all sides told the respect she had won, and the honor in which she was held by all. Her life was a blessing to her neighbors, and to all who knew her. Her husband, Thomas Gourley, died April 25, 1865, since which she has lived with her son Lewis on the old homestead. Mrs. Gourley was the mother of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters. Seven sons and two daughters are still living. She was the grandmother of fifty-three children, and the great-grandmother of thirty-five. Well she sustained herself in these relations. She had them all in her heart, and her love for them was reciprocated. Her smiles and benedictions were dear to them. She loved to visit among her children and they loved to have her with them. She was one of the first members of the Perry Presbyterian church, having united with it at its organization, September 4, 1836. She was the last of the original twenty-four members. Her union with Perry church was by letter, she having first professed Christ in the old Sinking Valley church in western part of this State at an earlier period. Her life had ever been in harmony with her profession. The house of God was her delight, its ministrations her joy. The Word of God was her daily companion-the light on her pathway-the good of her life. And as God talked to her in His word she talked to Him in prayer daily, and communed with him upon her bed. Prayer was the habit of her soul-one it always wore. She prayed ever for her church-its peace and prosperity-ever for her relatives and friends. What comfort came to the heart of the writer when one day near the close of her life she told him that she never laid her head upon her bed at night without praying for him-that he might he guided aright, and helped and prospered in his work. As lifes end drew near and death came on apace, her faith failed her not. She expressed no doubts, told of no fear, and when the end came she calmly bade good bye to those around her and fell asleep in Jesus. J.S.H.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:46:28 +0000
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