Hurley Eugene Gordner, 97, of Muncy, joined his beloved wife in heaven on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at the UPMC Susquehanna Hospital, Williamsport, surrounded by his loving family. Born January 30, 1921 in Jordan Township, Lycoming County, he was a son of the late Emanuel and Minnie (Bartlow) Gordner. On August 15, 1946 he married the former Grace Fay Buss at the Watsontown Lutheran Church.
They celebrated 55 years of marriage before her death April 3, 2002. Hurley was a 1939 graduate of Muncy-Muncy Creek High School. He served in the Army during World War II as a Tech Sergeant Fourth Grade with the 1474th Engineer Maintenance Company.
Hurley’s service included oversees duties in Germany and the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Hurley began his career as a florist at the age of 12 when he began working at Bryfogle’s Greenhouse in Muncy.
For 42 years he was a floral designer and later managed the Wholesale Department until his retirement. Hurley was a 64-year member of St. John Lutheran “Brick” Church, Montgomery, where he served on the church council and cared for the landscaping. He was a 54-year member of the Roland Ritter American Legion Post 268, Muncy; a 50-year member of the Muncy Lodge #299, F & AM and of the Ancient Scottish Rite Consistory.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed landscaping and fishing, especially with his wife. Hurley loved hunting, especially with his friends during their Wyoming trips and was a member of the former Genessee Hunting Club. He was fond of watching sports, especially the Baltimore Orioles and Penn State football.
Hurley also enjoyed playing cards and Bingo, but most of all he loved spending time with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren. Hurley would like everyone to remember him as “a lover not a fighter”. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Wayne H. and Catherine Gordner, of Camp Hill; a daughter and son-in-law, Rae Ann and John Karichner, of Muncy; four grandchildren, Margaret Melder and her husband, David , of Mechanicsburg, Dr. Harrison Gordner and his wife, Emma, of San Antonio, Texas, John F. Karichner III, of Muncy and Jaime Karichner and her fiancé, Jeffrey Feerrar, of Rauchtown; three great-grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by a son, Hurley Eugene Gordner Jr, who died in 1954; a grandson, Jason Gordner Karichner, who died in 1984; four brothers, Manley, Victor, Leon and Rollin Gordner; and one sister Verna Mae Gordner. A Masonic service will be held at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, at St. John Lutheran “Brick” Church, 196 Brick Church Rd. , Montgomery, where friends will be received from 10 to 11 a.m. The funeral will be held at 11 at the church, with his pastor, the Rev.
Theodore Cockley, officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Muncy Cemetery. The family welcomes flowers, however, if desired memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran “Brick” Church, 196 Brick Church Rd.
, Montgomery, PA 17752. The family would like to thank the entire staff of the Wolf Run Village for their loving care of their father.
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