Clifford Leo Gourley, 88, passed away Tuesday, March 16, 2004, in Manassas, Va.
Leo, a long-time resident of Corsicana, was born in Piggott, Ark., and raised in the State Orphans Home in Corsicana. He attended Mary Hardin College (now called the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor) as a campus boy where he milked cows and did chores in exchange for tuition.
In 1943, he married Mary Frances Clowe and together they had one daughter, Janet. Mary Frances died of bulbar polio in 1948. In 1950, Leo married Hallie Elizabeth McClure and they had one daughter, Betsy. Elizabeth died of leukemia in 1999 after 48 years of marriage.
Leo worked in Navy shipyards in Massachusetts and California as a civilian during World War II, then returned to Corsicana to work for Bethlehem Steel in Corsicana. When the Bethlehem plant closed down in 1959, Leo was the only employee given an opportunity to stay with the company and was relocated to Johnstown, Pa. The closing of the steel plants in Johnstown sent him back to his beloved Texas where he worked as a mechanical engineer, industrial engineer, and tool designer at General Dynamics and Drilco. These job changes took him to Arlington, Midland, San Angelo, and Houston. From Houston, he and Elizabeth retired to Athens.
In Athens, Leo assisted Elizabeth with her volunteer activities in the Republican Women's Club and the Athens Food Pantry, often writing political speeches for the Republican meetings. His love of classical music would often find him taking Elizabeth to the opera in Dallas or the symphony in Tyler. In his spare time, he would maintain beautiful flower and vegetable gardens on his acre property.
After Elizabeth's death, Leo moved to Virginia to live near his youngest daughter. He was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and 32nd Degree Knight Templar. He was the consummate southern gentleman, a loving husband and father, and a beloved grandfather who will truly be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his daughter, Betsy Chesky, of Centreville, Va.; son-in-law, Peter; grandchildren Jon, Jason, Jenny, and Megan; another daughter, Janet Engquist, of Houston; son-in-law, Bob, and grandchildren Ryan, Martin, Martin's wife Amanda; and one great-grandson, Hayden Christopher.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 22, 2004, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home in Corsicana. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana.
Photo's shared here are personal family photo's and we respectfully request they not be shared.
Leo, a long-time resident of Corsicana, was born in Piggott, Ark., and raised in the State Orphans Home in Corsicana. He attended Mary Hardin College (now called the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor) as a campus boy where he milked cows and did chores in exchange for tuition.
In 1943, he married Mary Frances Clowe and together they had one daughter, Janet. Mary Frances died of bulbar polio in 1948. In 1950, Leo married Hallie Elizabeth McClure and they had one daughter, Betsy. Elizabeth died of leukemia in 1999 after 48 years of marriage.
Leo worked in Navy shipyards in Massachusetts and California as a civilian during World War II, then returned to Corsicana to work for Bethlehem Steel in Corsicana. When the Bethlehem plant closed down in 1959, Leo was the only employee given an opportunity to stay with the company and was relocated to Johnstown, Pa. The closing of the steel plants in Johnstown sent him back to his beloved Texas where he worked as a mechanical engineer, industrial engineer, and tool designer at General Dynamics and Drilco. These job changes took him to Arlington, Midland, San Angelo, and Houston. From Houston, he and Elizabeth retired to Athens.
In Athens, Leo assisted Elizabeth with her volunteer activities in the Republican Women's Club and the Athens Food Pantry, often writing political speeches for the Republican meetings. His love of classical music would often find him taking Elizabeth to the opera in Dallas or the symphony in Tyler. In his spare time, he would maintain beautiful flower and vegetable gardens on his acre property.
After Elizabeth's death, Leo moved to Virginia to live near his youngest daughter. He was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and 32nd Degree Knight Templar. He was the consummate southern gentleman, a loving husband and father, and a beloved grandfather who will truly be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his daughter, Betsy Chesky, of Centreville, Va.; son-in-law, Peter; grandchildren Jon, Jason, Jenny, and Megan; another daughter, Janet Engquist, of Houston; son-in-law, Bob, and grandchildren Ryan, Martin, Martin's wife Amanda; and one great-grandson, Hayden Christopher.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 22, 2004, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home in Corsicana. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana.
Photo's shared here are personal family photo's and we respectfully request they not be shared.
Clifford Leo Gourley, 88, passed away Tuesday, March 16, 2004, in Manassas, Va.
Leo, a long-time resident of Corsicana, was born in Piggott, Ark., and raised in the State Orphans Home in Corsicana. He attended Mary Hardin College (now called the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor) as a campus boy where he milked cows and did chores in exchange for tuition.
In 1943, he married Mary Frances Clowe and together they had one daughter, Janet. Mary Frances died of bulbar polio in 1948. In 1950, Leo married Hallie Elizabeth McClure and they had one daughter, Betsy. Elizabeth died of leukemia in 1999 after 48 years of marriage.
Leo worked in Navy shipyards in Massachusetts and California as a civilian during World War II, then returned to Corsicana to work for Bethlehem Steel in Corsicana. When the Bethlehem plant closed down in 1959, Leo was the only employee given an opportunity to stay with the company and was relocated to Johnstown, Pa. The closing of the steel plants in Johnstown sent him back to his beloved Texas where he worked as a mechanical engineer, industrial engineer, and tool designer at General Dynamics and Drilco. These job changes took him to Arlington, Midland, San Angelo, and Houston. From Houston, he and Elizabeth retired to Athens.
In Athens, Leo assisted Elizabeth with her volunteer activities in the Republican Women's Club and the Athens Food Pantry, often writing political speeches for the Republican meetings. His love of classical music would often find him taking Elizabeth to the opera in Dallas or the symphony in Tyler. In his spare time, he would maintain beautiful flower and vegetable gardens on his acre property.
After Elizabeth's death, Leo moved to Virginia to live near his youngest daughter. He was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and 32nd Degree Knight Templar. He was the consummate southern gentleman, a loving husband and father, and a beloved grandfather who will truly be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his daughter, Betsy Chesky, of Centreville, Va.; son-in-law, Peter; grandchildren Jon, Jason, Jenny, and Megan; another daughter, Janet Engquist, of Houston; son-in-law, Bob, and grandchildren Ryan, Martin, Martin's wife Amanda; and one great-grandson, Hayden Christopher.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 22, 2004, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home in Corsicana. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana.
Photo's shared here are personal family photo's and we respectfully request they not be shared.
Leo, a long-time resident of Corsicana, was born in Piggott, Ark., and raised in the State Orphans Home in Corsicana. He attended Mary Hardin College (now called the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor) as a campus boy where he milked cows and did chores in exchange for tuition.
In 1943, he married Mary Frances Clowe and together they had one daughter, Janet. Mary Frances died of bulbar polio in 1948. In 1950, Leo married Hallie Elizabeth McClure and they had one daughter, Betsy. Elizabeth died of leukemia in 1999 after 48 years of marriage.
Leo worked in Navy shipyards in Massachusetts and California as a civilian during World War II, then returned to Corsicana to work for Bethlehem Steel in Corsicana. When the Bethlehem plant closed down in 1959, Leo was the only employee given an opportunity to stay with the company and was relocated to Johnstown, Pa. The closing of the steel plants in Johnstown sent him back to his beloved Texas where he worked as a mechanical engineer, industrial engineer, and tool designer at General Dynamics and Drilco. These job changes took him to Arlington, Midland, San Angelo, and Houston. From Houston, he and Elizabeth retired to Athens.
In Athens, Leo assisted Elizabeth with her volunteer activities in the Republican Women's Club and the Athens Food Pantry, often writing political speeches for the Republican meetings. His love of classical music would often find him taking Elizabeth to the opera in Dallas or the symphony in Tyler. In his spare time, he would maintain beautiful flower and vegetable gardens on his acre property.
After Elizabeth's death, Leo moved to Virginia to live near his youngest daughter. He was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and 32nd Degree Knight Templar. He was the consummate southern gentleman, a loving husband and father, and a beloved grandfather who will truly be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his daughter, Betsy Chesky, of Centreville, Va.; son-in-law, Peter; grandchildren Jon, Jason, Jenny, and Megan; another daughter, Janet Engquist, of Houston; son-in-law, Bob, and grandchildren Ryan, Martin, Martin's wife Amanda; and one great-grandson, Hayden Christopher.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 22, 2004, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home in Corsicana. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana.
Photo's shared here are personal family photo's and we respectfully request they not be shared.
Gravesite Details
DIED AT AGE 88
