Carl Reed Gurney

Carl Reed Gurney, born February 12th, 1981, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 27th, 2025, in Bend, Oregon from complications of an autoimmune disease.

Born in Coquille and raised in Myrtle Point, Oregon by his loving parents, Sandy and Reed Gurney, Carl grew up as a quiet, inquisitive, and thoughtful son. Carl's family remembers his love of the woods near his home, building tree forts, bike riding, swimming with cousins in the Coquille River, and hunting with his grandfather and friends. He was also a big fan of the History Channel and anything science related. After graduating from high school in 2000, Carl attended OSU in Corvallis and studied mechanical engineering. He soon found his true calling as a bicycle mechanic, working for 21 years at Corvallis Cyclery. In 2024, Carl moved to Bend, Oregon, with his life partner, Lisa Fahncke. They loved the outdoor activities in central Oregon, from mountain biking to snowboarding.

Carl was known for his unfailing kindness, quiet demeanor, and exceptional mechanical skills. He was a loving friend and family member, a helper, a tinkerer, a creative thinker, and an insightful individual. Carl enjoyed biking, fishing, being an outdoorsman, understanding how machines worked, and being a long-time contributor to Burning Man.

Carl is survived by the love of his life, Lisa Fahncke, parents Reed and Sandy Gurney, sisters and brothers-in-law Lisa Gurney and Jon Franco, Lynn Piper and Josh Piper, and Brittany Gurney and Peter Vo, as well as nieces Jayann and Elise and nephews Tucker, Kai, Brody, and William, who all have fond memories of Carl as the playful uncle on whom to climb. He has aunts, uncles, cousins, and long-time friends who will remember him as a kind, quirky, interesting, and peaceful person in their lives. Carl enjoyed referring to his friends and family as "Ossem!"