[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF MARY QUARRIER GOURLEY

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                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2008

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Quarrier Gourley, 
who passed away on Friday, March 14, 2008.
  Mary, who was known to most people as Molly, was born in 1932 and 
grew up in Modesto, California. She attended Modesto Junior College and 
later Zweegman's School for Medical Assistants in San Francisco. In 
1957, she married William H. ``Bill'' Gourley, who was a 1st Lieutenant 
in the U.S. Army. While Bill traveled the world for the United States 
Army, Molly was at his side. Over a 35-year span they covered every 
corner of the United States and Europe. Even after Bill retired, they 
continued to hit the road often. Among Molly's favorite places to visit 
were Washington DC., Germany and Turkey.
  Molly loved to spend her time researching her genealogy, gardening, 
traveling, and entertaining her friends and family. Through genealogy, 
she discovered her families' extraordinary history. She had family 
members who took part in the American Revolution and joined the 
Daughters of the American Revolution. Molly had a great amount of pride 
in her family origins. It was that pride in her family history that she 
imbued in her own family and what built strong bonds among them, bonds 
that keep them close despite being settled in disparate places.
  I always knew Molly as a vivacious, bubbly person--always full of 
life and laughter. But that bubbly spirit was not to be confused with 
frivolousness. Absolutely not. Molly was a person of depth and 
substance, a woman of strength. Hers was a presence always felt and 
will be sorely missed.
  Molly is survived by her husband, William Gourley, who attained the 
rank of Major General in the U.S. Army and is now retired: her son 
Michael; and daughter Cecily, Carolyn, Mary Jane; and her nine 
grandchildren. She will be laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery later 
this month.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Mary Quarrier Gourley, who was a 
thoughtful and loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
    




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