Roger L. Gurney 74 passed away peacefully February 4, 2022 at his home in Oneonta which he shared with his dear friend, Linda.

He was born on July 26, 1947 in Kearney Nebraska.  He was the only child of Kenneth and Iris Gurney.  When Roger was 2 years old, he and his parents moved to Cherry Valley, NY.  His parents built and owned the Tee Pee gift shop on Highway 20, Cherry Valley, NY for many years.  Roger thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Tee Pee and sharing stories with the current owners.  He attended Cherry Valley Central School.  He was quite the historian of the local area.  He was loved by many in the Cherry Valley community.

After his mother's passing, he lived with Shirley Guanu and her family.  His advocate and trustee at the time, the late Fr. Norman Sieme made the arrangements for Roger to become part of the Upstate Home, now Springbrook family.  He moved to Walnut Street Community Home in 1992. Roger moved to the Ford Avenue Community Home in 2001 and developed a special bond with Brenda Graham, Manager of the home.  The New Fane Baptist Church family became very special to him and he loved having Brian and Amy Murray visiting him. Brian and Roger shared their love of the Buffalo Bills.  Roger was a very proud member of the Springbrook family.  In 2008 he received Springbrook's Triumph of Life Achievement award.  Roger worked at Ponderosa, Walmart and The ARC Otsego Work Center, where he developed many friendships.

Roger loved to travel and when he was younger, he took numerous trips with "People and Places".  He took pride in saying he had visited 49 of the 50 states. He visited Europe, Hawaii and Jamaica.  Roger always spoke of going back to Kearney Nebraska and his Trustee/ Advocate Jim Beebe made this adventure possible.  Roger was accompanied to Nebraska with his good friends, Emily Konchar and Chris Herman. Through the suggestion of Kathy Yager, who he loved dearly, Roger ventured to Old Orchard Beach Maine with Judy Beebe and Karen Lambright.  Roger made friends wherever he went and became part of the Friendship Motor Inn family in Old Orchard Beach.  Another love of Roger's was lottery scratch off tickets and he was very lucky with these. His first trip to Maine he won $500.

In his younger years he was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Springfield Center when he met Jim Beebe, 48 years ago.  Roger became a member of St. James Episcopal Church when he moved to Oneonta.

Roger is survived by his first cousins, Priscilla (Gurney) and her husband, Mohommad Yagegari of Schenectady, NY, Robert and his wife, Sandra Gurney of Cape Coral, Florida, Linda (Gurney) and her husband, Frank Millard of Summerfield, Florida, Kenneth and his wife, Valerie Gurney of Northport, Alabama and William Ives of Penebroke Pines Florida.  Roger is also survived by numerous second and third cousins.  He is also survived by his dear friends and caregivers Crystal Patterson and Michelle Pinney.  "Mommy" Judy and "Daddy" Jim would like to thank all the people who touched Roger's heart.

A Requiem Mass will be offered at 11:00 a.m. February 16, 2022 at St. James Episcopal Church, 305 Main St., Oneonta, NY, with the Rev. Kenneth Hunter as celebrant.

The Committal service and burial will be at Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Unadilla NY 11 a..m. Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to the Springbrook, 105 Campus Drive, Oneonta, NY or St. James Episcopal Church, 305 Main St. Oneonta, NY

A celebration of Life will be scheduled for this summer.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Lewis Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home in Oneonta, NY; online condolences may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com