Ezra Dean Gourley, 84

Ezra Dean Gourley, 84, Villisca, died Monday, March 3, 2014, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak.

Dean was born March 3, 1930, in Corning, the second son to Merle Dennis and Jessie Mae (Brown) Gourley. Dean graduated from Villisca High School in the Class of 1947.

On June 3, 1951, Dean married Joyce Joan Lynam in the United Methodist Church in Nodaway. This union was blessed with four children, Denise, Deborah, Mike and Diane.

Dean spent his life working as a farmer in the Villisca area. He was born to be a farmer. He started farming as a senior in high school and never stopped until the day he died. Dean loved his wife, family, farming and all animals big and small.

He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Deborah; and brothers, James and Blake.

Surviving Dean is his wife of 62 years, Joyce, of Villisca; children, Denise Ruffing and husband Michael of Carl Junction, Mo., Mike Gourley of Creston and Diane Gnaedinger of Villisca; grandchildren, Stacie Kesselring, Gabriel Ruffing, Erica Stortz, Austin Gourley, Wesley Gourley, Brittany Gourley, Mackenzie Gnaedinger, Jackson Gnaedinger, Zoe Gnaedinger, Timothy O’Grady and Jess Bond; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Dean were Saturday, March 8 at the Villisca United Methodist Church with interment following the service in the Arlington Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the Arlington Cemetery or the Villisca EMS.

Wolfe Funeral Home in Villisca is in charge of arrangements.