Judy Gail Gurley

Judy Gail Gurley (née Carter), long-time St. Louis resident, died on December 9, 2022, at the age of 83. She is survived by a large and loving family, including her husband, William H. (Bill) Gurley; two sisters: Terrye Fincher (Searcy, Ark.) and Sandy Kelley (Little Rock, Ark.); her three children, Kathryn Nall (husband, Scott), Melanie Gurley Keeney (husband, Tim), and Melissa Gurley Bancks (husband, Eric), all who reside in St. Louis; her six grandchildren: Rebecca Nall (husband, Brandon), Courtney Nall, Ryan Keeney, Andrew Keeney, Mitchell Bancks, and Annalise Bancks; and 8 nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her beloved parents (Thomas Minter Carter and Beulah Kathryn Carter), sister (Carol Ann Hendrix), and nephew (Thomas Michael Arthur). Judy was born in Dumas, Arkansas on November 1, 1939. She was raised in Dumas, graduated from Dumas High School, and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from the University of Arkansas. Judy was an extremely popular teacher who made a profound impact on her students. She taught composition and literature courses at Meramec Community College and spent the majority of her career as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Missouri St. Louis. Her family has endowed the University of Missouri St. Louis with the Judy Gurley Award for Excellence in English Studies in her honor to support extraordinary writers. Judy was a devoted Christian and was a member of Second Baptist Church of St. Louis for over 50 years. She wrote and published the Outlook (church newsletter), taught decades of Sunday School to youth and adults, and sang in the choir. She was active in church leadership, as she served as Moderator of the congregation and on the church council. Judy also led countless committees and organizations, including serving as President of the American Baptist Great Rivers Region and President of the local American Baptist Women’s Society. She spent hundreds of hours supporting those in need (Meals on Wheels, “adopting” families in distress, and providing other services). Judy (“Nanny”) dearly loved her family. She met her husband, Bill, in graduate school, and after a whirlwind romance, she and Bill were married on December 23, 1962. She passed away just 2 weeks shy of their 60th wedding anniversary. Judy had an adventurous spirit, and she and Bill traveled the world, including Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and many other countries in Europe. They bought a second home in Lake City, Colorado, where they have shared their love of the mountains and nature with their children and grandchildren, who were her greatest joy. Nanny attended countless swim meets, soccer and volleyball games, and school events. She never met a stranger and had a kind word for everyone. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. To know Judy was to love her! In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Second Baptist Church in her name or to her scholarship endowment: Judy Gurley Award for Excellence in English Studies, Giving.UMSL.edu/JGurley Celebration of Life Service for Judy Gail Gurley will be held at Second Baptist Church, 9030 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63117, on Saturday, December 17th at 2:30 pm. Arrangements by Bopp Chapel.

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Judy Gail Gurley

November 1, 1939 - December 9, 2022