Christa M. Gourley

Christa M. Gourley, 91, of Burgettstown; Jefferson Twp., PA passed away peacefully on Thursday morning August 1, 2024 in her home with her loving husband by her side. 

She was born on June 10, 1933 in Dresden, Germany a daughter of the talented artist and professional clothing designer and tailor Horst William Gartner and Elizabeth Gartner. After the firebombing of Dresden by the British on February 14, 1945 when she was 12 years old, her parents led her and her two sisters out of the city to safety by walking all night through the ruins finding refuge in the village of Nickern. After escaping the Russians and the dreaded “Stazi”, they found safety four years later in Stuttgart, West Germany. Christa was a candidate for Miss Germany at 18 years old but declined because she was too modest to wear a bathing suit. She met her future husband while he was stationed with the United States Army in Germany. She immigrated to the United States through Boston, Mass. where she worked for John Hancock before marrying David H. Gourley on December 22, 1962. She received her US Citizenship before Federal Judge Wallace S. Gourley at the Federal Building in Pittsburgh in 1963 speaking fluent German, Russian and English. She and her husband moved to Burgettstown, PA in 1965 where they raised their two children Second Lieutenant Diana S. Gourley, US Army of Sacramento, CA and Neal David Gourley and his wife Pamela of New Galilee, PA. She was blessed with three grandchildren Tara, Garrett and Lauren Gourley. She was active in the local P.T.A. and Republican Judge of Elections for several years. Surviving in addition to her husband, children and grandchildren is her sister Ila of Stuttgart, Germany. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Junta of Canada.

Services officiated by Pastor's Jason Beachy and Wayne Lapp and interment in the Cross Creek Cemetery were held privately under the direction of Slater Funeral & Cremation Services of Burgettstown, 73 Highland Avenue, Burgettstown, PA 15021. 

If so desired, Memorial Donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601 www.act.alz.org