PHYLLIS M. GOURLEY

1925 - 2015

GOURLEY, Phyllis M. Died on Dec. 25 at home in Tucson, Ariz. She was 90. Phyllis was born on August 27, 1925 in Norwood, Massachusetts, to Martin and Ella McDonald. She graduated from Canton High School where she was captain of the Field Hockey Team. After attending Kathleen Dell School of Business in Boston, she married Ronald Gourley in 1950 and had 3 children. They lived in Cambridge while Ronald taught at Harvard University and spent each summer on Martha's Vineyard. After moving to Tucson, Arizona, in1978, they continued to return to their Chilmark home each summer. In the 1940's and 50's, Phyllis worked as a medical assistant for famed cardiologist Dr. Paul Dudley White at the Mass General Hospital. In 1956 Phyllis worked with the International Rescue Committee organizing clothing drives for displaced Hungarian Refugees and finding temporary homes for them including her own home. In the 1960's she was Co-Chairman of the Ladies Committee of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. In the 1970's Phyllis was Coordinator of Surgical Grand Rounds for Dr. Francis D. Moore at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. Phyllis also devoted herself to volunteer service in countless areas, including campaigning for both JFK and Edward Brooke in their Senate races, reading for students at the Perkins School for the Blind, coordinating the Gallery Go Round at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, and managing the Shady Hill Thrift Store in Cambridge. Phyllis faithfully attended her children's and grandchildren's sporting events and often took them on ski and beach trips. Phyllis had a strong, positive influence on many lives, setting an example of the importance of giving back by being of service to those who were less fortunate. She will always be remembered for her great love of life, family, friends, pets and animals, her boundless energy, and her great parties in Cambridge and on the Vineyard. Her advice to everyone was to "always have fun". She is survived by her sister, Jean LeBarre of Palm Springs, FL; son, Robert Gourley of Tucson, AZ; daughter, Karen Gourley Lehman of Salem, MA; son, Geoffrey Gourley of Flagstaff, AZ; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald; and brother, James McDonald. Phyllis was interred in a private ceremony next to her husband Ronald at Abel's Hill Cemetery on January 9. A memorial mass will be held on January 16 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church on Franklin Street in Vineyard Haven. Donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 http://hospiceofmv.org/donations or to the Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02568 http://animalshelterofmv.org/donate.php Local arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. An online guest book is available at ccgfuneralhome.com.