John Gourlay, Jr.

Published 10:55 am Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Mr. John Gourlay, Jr., 80, passed away Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, from 9 to 11 a.m. , at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (113 South 9th Street, Oxford). A funeral service will immediately follow at 11 a.m., also at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Interment will follow the funeral service at Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Rev. Jody Burnett will officiate. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Gourlay was born in Rosedale, Miss, in August 1938. He graduated high school from Culver Military School. Mr. Gourlay played freshman football at the University of Mississippi. He attended Southern Miss. and Mississippi State University where he was a Kappa Sigma and graduated with a degree in General Agriculture. Mr. Gourlay then obtained his law degree from Ole Miss, then later received his Master’s Degree in Taxation from NYU. Throughout his career, he was also a farmer, real estate broker and a businessman.

Mr. Gourlay enjoyed his time with family, work, and helping others. He was also a faithful member of the Rotary Club of North Jackson. Mr. Gourlay was a president of the club, Paul Harris Fellow and District Governor.

Mr. Gourlay leaves behind two sons, George Gourlay of Oxford and John Gourlay of Topeka, Kan.; three daughters, Jeanne “Gigi” Tolley of Jackson, Helen Gourlay of Magee, Miss., Stephanie Coghlan of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; one brother, Will Gourlay of Rosedale and seven grandchildren.

Mr. Gourlay was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Williams Gourlay; his parents, John Gourlay, Sr., and Helen Gourlay Bridges.

Donations and memorials in honor of Mr. John Gourlay, Jr. may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).

Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall at www.colemanfuneralhome.com.