Rabbi Philip Michael Aronson
– December 19, 2018
On Dec. 26, 2018, Rabbi Philip Michael Aronson passed away. He was the beloved husband of Jean; loving father of Shayna Singer (Jonathan) and Stacey Herndon (Chip); cherished “Ada” of Zachary (12), Joshua (8) and Zoey (3). He is also survived by cousins William and Mary Beth Goldman and Lisa Goldman.
Services were held on Friday, Dec. 28, at Beth Israel Jewish Congregation of Sun City Center with interment in Star of David Cemetery of the Palm Beaches. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations in Phil’s name be directed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or Beth Israel Jewish Congregation of Sun City Center.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
<h2>Elizabeth ‘Betty’ June Gurley</h2>
Elizabeth “Betty” June Gurley, beloved by many, died peacefully surrounded by her family on December 19, 2018, at the age of 99. Wherever she went, she left joy, laughter and love in her wake. She was the wife of the late Rev. Dr. James L. Gurley.
Born in Monroe, Indiana, into a close Mennonite community, she was the only daughter of the late Robert and Rhoda (Leichty) Sprunger, along with seven brothers, all of whom called her the queen of the family. She grew up in Berne, Indiana, proud of her Swiss heritage, loving God and wanting to serve Him and those around her. In her childhood she was a tomboy playing baseball with her brothers (because they would not play dolls with her), learning to sew, play the piano and excelling in her schoolwork.
Becoming a teacher was her dream. There was not enough money for that in her family, but they scraped together the $70 for nursing school and she graduated from Fort Wayne Lutheran School of Nursing in 1944. One day in church James L. Gurley noticed her, having just been ordained a Baptist minister. He wooed and won her, and they married on December 31, 1945. At this time she decided to become a Baptist so that she could support Jim in his work. They were privileged to minister churches in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
As a minister’s wife, Betty was devoted to her vocation in the church. She was a Sunday school teacher, part of the choir, greeter and a lay leader within the missionary groups and the Bible studies. In these roles she excelled, because of her true love for the people and for her Lord. She was the one who remembered each person’s name, welcomed them in, listened to their problems and created connections. In one of the churches they served, the head of the deacons’ board said that “Betty was Jim’s best asset.”
Betty and Jim had four children: Janet, Joan, Jamie and John.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Each Sunday morning one could hear her marching across the foyer, calling their names for breakfast, urging them to get ready for church. Raising children brought her great joy — as well as the attendant problems that every family encounters. In homemaking, shifts of nursing and her role as a minister’s wife, she earned the moniker of White Tornado, cooking delicious meals, wearing her white uniform with starched hat, sewing dresses for her daughters, getting her children to school and church, and trying to make sure they behaved as all preacher’s kids should — perfectly. Of course, this was an impossible task, even for Betty and her husband Jim.
However, she did train them well, as each of them took on aspects of her incredible work ethic and desire to serve others. And they became perfectly imperfect, creating success in whatever roles they took on.
Betty and Jim became snowbirds and spent six months of every year in Sun City Center, Florida, very active in their community there and in Ann Arbor. In these years as the White Tornado, she became a quilter, and earned another moniker, Betty the Boomer, because of the way she could hit a golf ball. And, as each of her grandchildren graduated high school, she presented them with a handmade quilt that was a work of art.
She and Jim were married for 65 years. After his death she continued her ministry serving others no matter where she found herself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She moved to Colonial Gardens in Beverly when she was 93, and there made another best friend, Gerry Haley. They held hands at every meal and created joy for their community. When she moved to memory care in Seasons of Danvers, she continued to reach out to others, particularly her caregivers, who cried as they said goodbye to her, because of what she gave to them.
She is survived by her children, all recipients and returners of her love, Janet L. Gurley Booker and her husband Wayne; Joan B. McGivern and her husbandMichael; James R. Gurley and his wife Sara Strebe; and John M. Gurley and his wife Leslie F.; 11 grandchildren, Michelle McGivern, Meghan Munro, Molly Gurley-Broudo, Margot Marcou, Emma Gurley-Broudo, Kiersten Gurley, James G. Gurley, Katherine Gurley, Benjamin Gurley, Alison Gurley, Hannah Gurley; six great-grandchildren, Aiofe Tykulsky, Isla Tykulsky, Ella Jade Gurley, Gabriel Gurley, De’Andre Hall, McCarty Munro and a step-grandson, Josh Zierler-Broudo. She was predeceased by her six brothers, Donald, Edgar, Eugene, John, Roy and Sam Sprunger.
A Memorial Service was held for Betty at the Emmanuel Chapel, 24 Masconomo Street, Manchester by the Sea on Saturday, Dec. 22, Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly. Donations can be made in her memory to Seasons of Danvers Associates Fund, 44 Summer Street, Danvers, MA 01923. Information and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.
Services were held on Friday, Dec. 28, at Beth Israel Jewish Congregation of Sun City Center with interment in Star of David Cemetery of the Palm Beaches. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations in Phil’s name be directed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or Beth Israel Jewish Congregation of Sun City Center.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
<h2>Elizabeth ‘Betty’ June Gurley</h2>
Elizabeth “Betty” June Gurley, beloved by many, died peacefully surrounded by her family on December 19, 2018, at the age of 99. Wherever she went, she left joy, laughter and love in her wake. She was the wife of the late Rev. Dr. James L. Gurley.
Born in Monroe, Indiana, into a close Mennonite community, she was the only daughter of the late Robert and Rhoda (Leichty) Sprunger, along with seven brothers, all of whom called her the queen of the family. She grew up in Berne, Indiana, proud of her Swiss heritage, loving God and wanting to serve Him and those around her. In her childhood she was a tomboy playing baseball with her brothers (because they would not play dolls with her), learning to sew, play the piano and excelling in her schoolwork.
Becoming a teacher was her dream. There was not enough money for that in her family, but they scraped together the $70 for nursing school and she graduated from Fort Wayne Lutheran School of Nursing in 1944. One day in church James L. Gurley noticed her, having just been ordained a Baptist minister. He wooed and won her, and they married on December 31, 1945. At this time she decided to become a Baptist so that she could support Jim in his work. They were privileged to minister churches in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
As a minister’s wife, Betty was devoted to her vocation in the church. She was a Sunday school teacher, part of the choir, greeter and a lay leader within the missionary groups and the Bible studies. In these roles she excelled, because of her true love for the people and for her Lord. She was the one who remembered each person’s name, welcomed them in, listened to their problems and created connections. In one of the churches they served, the head of the deacons’ board said that “Betty was Jim’s best asset.”
Betty and Jim had four children: Janet, Joan, Jamie and John.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Each Sunday morning one could hear her marching across the foyer, calling their names for breakfast, urging them to get ready for church. Raising children brought her great joy — as well as the attendant problems that every family encounters. In homemaking, shifts of nursing and her role as a minister’s wife, she earned the moniker of White Tornado, cooking delicious meals, wearing her white uniform with starched hat, sewing dresses for her daughters, getting her children to school and church, and trying to make sure they behaved as all preacher’s kids should — perfectly. Of course, this was an impossible task, even for Betty and her husband Jim.
However, she did train them well, as each of them took on aspects of her incredible work ethic and desire to serve others. And they became perfectly imperfect, creating success in whatever roles they took on.
Betty and Jim became snowbirds and spent six months of every year in Sun City Center, Florida, very active in their community there and in Ann Arbor. In these years as the White Tornado, she became a quilter, and earned another moniker, Betty the Boomer, because of the way she could hit a golf ball. And, as each of her grandchildren graduated high school, she presented them with a handmade quilt that was a work of art.
She and Jim were married for 65 years. After his death she continued her ministry serving others no matter where she found herself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She moved to Colonial Gardens in Beverly when she was 93, and there made another best friend, Gerry Haley. They held hands at every meal and created joy for their community. When she moved to memory care in Seasons of Danvers, she continued to reach out to others, particularly her caregivers, who cried as they said goodbye to her, because of what she gave to them.
She is survived by her children, all recipients and returners of her love, Janet L. Gurley Booker and her husband Wayne; Joan B. McGivern and her husbandMichael; James R. Gurley and his wife Sara Strebe; and John M. Gurley and his wife Leslie F.; 11 grandchildren, Michelle McGivern, Meghan Munro, Molly Gurley-Broudo, Margot Marcou, Emma Gurley-Broudo, Kiersten Gurley, James G. Gurley, Katherine Gurley, Benjamin Gurley, Alison Gurley, Hannah Gurley; six great-grandchildren, Aiofe Tykulsky, Isla Tykulsky, Ella Jade Gurley, Gabriel Gurley, De’Andre Hall, McCarty Munro and a step-grandson, Josh Zierler-Broudo. She was predeceased by her six brothers, Donald, Edgar, Eugene, John, Roy and Sam Sprunger.
A Memorial Service was held for Betty at the Emmanuel Chapel, 24 Masconomo Street, Manchester by the Sea on Saturday, Dec. 22, Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly. Donations can be made in her memory to Seasons of Danvers Associates Fund, 44 Summer Street, Danvers, MA 01923. Information and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.