Obituary of Andrew Jackson Gurley

Andrew Jackson Gurley, better known as Jack, Born September 14, 1938 died peacefully at his home January 22, 2017. Survived by his wife of nearly 59 years Katherine Gurley, his daughters Julie Fritz and Cathy Weiskerger and son Rick Gurley. His Grandchildren, Jason & Casey Fritz, Jaclyn & Aaron Bishop, Jessica & Mike Herron and Brittany & James Lopez. His Great Grandchildren Emery, Archer, Easton, Fisher and Fletcher. Jack moved to Thousand Oaks 39 years ago from the San Fernando Valley. Jack spent his life as a builder – building homes, building a family and building friendships. Jack spent his young life with his family picking crops. It was there that he really showed the driving ambition to be the best in any challenge. Crops were picked by the piece, meaning a picker received a given amount of money for harvesting a certain amount of crops. Jack refused to allow himself to be beaten by any other pickers no matter if they were picking peaches from a tree or beans from a row. He drove himself unceasingly to win. Later this trait manifested itself in his chosen adult career of carpentry and construction. There was always someone thinking that they were better, and the inevitable head-to-head competitions proved Jack would not be beaten. He was such a fast carpenter that he was often accused of cheating by his bitter losers, but the truth was that he was just better. He never wasted any moves and was always thinking far ahead of himself. Jack had many hobbies over the years. He loved playing the guitar and the keyboard, and would spend hours immersed in writing his own tunes. He learned the art of whittling when he was young and continued for many decades, and his home is decorated with his artwork. He was an outstanding fisherman and an incredibly skillful marksman with any kind of gun. Four-wheel off-roading, camping, boating, sailing, video games, online poker, and raising koi fish were other enjoyments through the years. There was a time when he was avid gold seeker and he inadvertently became a prospecting legend when a story got around that he had stumbled across a buried pirate’s treasure of gold doubloons. It wasn’t true and was actually started by a friend that thought that he knew more than he did. Jack was honest to a fault and he always admitted that the story wasn’t true, but inside there was a twinkle in his eye as he secretly enjoyed the notoriety. He truly loved construction and converted a tiny, two-bedroom house in Thousand Oaks into a sprawling home and his hands-on talent was everywhere. On the outside he built his own swimming pool and numerous fish ponds that his grandchildren and great-grandchildren thought was there own personal Disneyland. He was a true family man and enjoyed spending time with his wife working on projects, loved celebrating life events with his grandkids and loved getting the chance to have his great-grandkids play in his ever expanding yard. He was a friend to many and will be missed by all. Jack has left a legacy of joy, laughter, memories, friendship and strength, which will live on through his family.