Ila Carmen Gourley

Born May 18, 1936 in Roseburg, Oregon. She grew up and went to school in Sutherlin until she was married in 1952 to Phil Gourley her husband of over 72 years. She lived briefly in Arizona in 1954. Then moved back to Oregon. The family moved to Alaska for a few years in 1966. They then returned to the Willamette Valley in 1968. When they landed in Aumsville in 1972 that is where they spent the remainder of their years raising their family.

She was a hard-working woman who held a job in manufacturing windows and doors at Phillips Industries for 15 years in addition to raising their children. She graduated Chemeketa Community College in 1992 with an Associates of Arts in Office Management at the age of 56. She always worked hard to achieve her goals.

She enjoyed traveling, horse-back riding, camping, and attending martial arts classes at Stayton Self Defense for several years. The biggest highlight of her travels was when she fulfilled her lifetime dream of going to Hawaii in 2007 and 2008. She also visited multiple National Parks and Monuments throughout her years. She was a fierce defender of her children, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her husband Phil, daughter Jeanette, son David, thirteen grand-children, and many great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her children Nathan, Dennis, Janice, and Judy.