“He never met a stranger. Every person in the world, to him, was just a friend he hadn’t met yet. He always saw the good in people. Sometimes, that’s all he would see, even if no one else could see it.”
― Melanie Shawn, Sweet Reunion
Services for Floyd Gurley are 10:00 AM Friday, December 15, 2023 at Criswell Funeral Home, Rev. Scott Kinney and Rev. Brian Matthews will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery.
Lifelong Ada resident, Floyd Gurley, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 7. He was born August 28, 1939 in Lightning Ridge, near Fitzhugh, Oklahoma, the youngest of 11 children (by a few minutes). Floyd was the owner of Oklahoma Optical, having started working there for his future father-in-law on his 16th birthday. He retired in 2005 after 50 years of service to the Ada community.
Floyd was a member of First United Methodist Church, Hobo Club, and was active in Kiwanis Club for many years. He enjoyed driving the train at Wintersmith Park and interacting with young people and their families. Floyd’s gift was his love of people. He prided himself in not only knowing all of his patients at Oklahoma Optical, but he delighted in learning details of their lives. While on vacations and traveling, he had an uncanny way of connecting with strangers and extracting the details of their jobs, their hobbies, and their families. He knew that your aunt taught school at Roff, that your nephew played baseball at Byng and fixed bicycles, and that your favorite aunt had a fantastic vegetable garden. He loved people and their stories.
Floyd attended school at Fitzhugh before moving to Ada to attend Ada Junior High. In eighth grade, he met Patricia Claire Hensley. Floyd and Pat would spend their free time roller skating, riding bikes, and hanging out. Floyd graduated from Ada High School in 1957 and Pat graduated from Ada High School the following year. She graduated on a Friday night, and they got married the following Friday night and just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in June.
After retiring, Floyd and Pat traveled to many countries where Pat taught porcelain art at conventions and seminars. They enjoyed cruises several times, and during these travels, Floyd often commented happily that he had a new bunch of people to talk to.
Floyd leaves behind his twin brother, Loyd, and his wife, Mary, and his brother, Wendell and wife Treva. Preceding Floyd in death were brothers Elbert (Lois), Clifford (Thelma), Sam (Charlene), and Kenneth (Ruth), and sisters Sylvia (George Breeden), Allene (Kenneth Cobb), Christine (Elbert Lewis), and Mary Ellen (Paul Williams).
Loving family members are his son, Russ and his wife, Fionnuala, and their daughters, Cait and Caoimhe. His son, Chris, and his son, Griffin, and daughter, Megan. Also, countless friends with fond memories of Floyd’s hard work, dedication to Ada, inquisitive nature, and corny jokes.
The family requests that you hug your family members and friends and tell them you love them. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), Love Theory (www.lovetheory.org), or another deserving local charity in Floyd’s name.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
