Justin Lavon Gurley

On July 6, 2023, Justin Lavon Gurley, age 32, of Covington, entered Heaven and saw the light of his Lord God for himself. He was born in Memphis, TN on September 15, 1990, to Amanda Cothran and Jimmy Gurley. Justin enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2008, graduated from Covington High School in 2009, and shortly after graduation, went off to basic training. Justin spent 15 years serving his country with multiple overseas deployments, where he always found adventure. He held the rank of E7, Master Sergeant at the 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis, TN. Justin was a member of First Baptist Church of Covington and was ordained as a deacon on January 30th, 2022. He was currently serving in that role, and especially loved serving his “widow ladies.” Justin was an avid fisherman who loved the outdoors and took duck hunting to extreme measures. Summer days you could find him captaining his ‘toon, coaching little league, or taking trips with his Air Force softball team. He truly treasured coaching his TCA soccer team, being a member of the Tipton County VFW, but most of all he was a devoted husband and father who loved spending time with his family. Justin enjoyed taking family road trips, camping adventures, and in his son Jaxon’s words “fixin’ stuff.” Jasper’s fondest memories with Justin were playing baseball and soccer together and most of all getting to work on their jeep together. Justin and Amanda met when they were 17 years old, and were married on June 25th, 2011. Life was always an adventure for them, starting their life off in Tulsa, OK while Justin went through college, to moving back home a few years later when they had two precious boys. Justin and Amanda had a bond so strong nothing could break them apart. One of the dearest memories they shared was their three-week camping/anniversary trip. They faced a lot of challenges along the way, but it made them stronger as a family. They saw such beautiful places, enjoyed God’s wonderful creations, and made many memories that will last a lifetime. Amanda and the boys will miss Justin deeply but will always have his love in their hearts. To cherish his memory, he leaves his wife, Amanda Dawn Kissell Gurley; two sons, Jasper Gurley and Jaxon Gurley; his father, Jimmy (Andrea) Gurley; his step-father, Darrell Cothran; three siblings, Courtney (Clint) Watkins, Julie (Mike) Fuller and Matthew Cothran. He was preceded in death by his mother, Amanda Covington Cothran, and his grandparents, William Lavon and Margaret Kirby Gurley, Johnnie R. Barnes, and Richard H. Baldwin. Funeral services for Justin Gurley will be held on Friday, July 14 at 2pm at First Baptist Church of Covington, with interment to follow in Magnolia Gardens Cemetery. Visitation for friends and family will be held the evening prior at the church, from 5pm until 7pm.