This is going to be one of the hardest posts I have ever made. Tonight we lost one of the best friends, historians, and supportersthat racing has ever had. Tommy Gurley has lost his battle with cancer. I left Serenity Hospice House inMooresvilletonight around 7:30, and Tommy passed away about 8:30.

Tommy was the person you would see when you walked in the front door of Memory Lane Museum. He would always love to call me and tell me who had come by that dayand shared their stories with him about the best days of racing.I was never able to stump him on any racing trivia question.

I have been very close friends with him since 1970. He decided he wanted to beinvolvedin racing in some capacity as a career. He first went to work as a show car driver forthe Bill Elliott team about 1985. He continued to work for various Cup teamsover the years. He spent a few years with the Mello Yellow team of Kyle Petty. He used to brag to me how he could sign Kyle's autograph to satisfyafan who would not leave a show without a souvenir. He then did John Andretti's Indy car show program and Davey Allison's Texaco team.. He was involved in the Days of Thunder car deal and went to California with the cars for the movie premier. His longest running team was the Tide program for drivers Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Craven, and Ricky Rudd. He continued with them until Tide ended their Cupassociation. Hehas been with Memory Lane and Sam and Alex Beam for the last several years. Hegot to be friends with many of hisracing heroes over the years andwas knownby mostall of the racing community. He was one of the organizers every yearfor the Racers Reunion tribute at Memory Lane . He was always a big supporter of my Cruise In and Racing Reunion forcancer research at my shop each October.

I will let everyone know of thefuneral arrangements when they become available. Charlie Craig

Thanks for the report Charles. That is indeed very sad news. He always greeted me and always treated me like I was a true Legend. I will miss him on my visits there.

Thanks Tim, I could make a book of people like you that meant the world to him. He never met a stranger. His life was a lot like mine and yours of "living in the past, whenracing was really fun". He spoke highly of you. Thank you for all you do too. Charles

Sad news indeed, I send my sincere condolences to you, his family and legion of friends. He will be sorely missed...

I am very sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with you and his family.

so sad to hear always about tommy .when I was at Charles event 2013 it was so good to see tommy.now he was special friend.alway love talking to tommy.my prayers are to his family at this time.tommy RIP.

Charles, This is almost as hard for me to read as it was for you to post. Tom and I had become great friends over the years and he was so knowledgable about his love of racing. He will be missed so much and may he Rest In Peace.

Saddened to hear of the loss of your dear friend. Thoughts and prayers to all of Tommy's family and friends.

We lost a good friend. Charlie, I'm glad we went to see him a week or so ago. It was a chance to say goodbye. He will be missed. Condolences to the family. So sorry.

Thanks Dub, he always was a "BIG DUB SIMPSON FAN". Tom could tell me the history of your career without even thinking too hard for the details. He was a walking encyclopedia of racing and lived the sport and it's history. He loved the local drivers like yourself who accomplished their dream of being the best by hard work and not being given anything along the way. He gave me a book about the independent drivers several years ago and told me the drivers like you, Kenny Schrader, Larry Wallace, Bryant Wallace, Dunaway, his buddy Bobby Allison, his goodpal Dick Trickle and the others who he had come to know on a personal basis were his " true heroes". To me....that's a dang good compliment! Thank you Dub!

The arrangements for Tom are Monday night at James Funeral Home in Huntersville from 6-8. I-77 north to exit 23. Take the ramp to the right. Turn left on hwy. 21 at the light. The funeral home is on the right behind the Goodwill store just after you turn left. The service will be at Hopewell Baptist Church in Davidson on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Thank you Ray, He always enjoyed your additions to this site, especially your photographs. Charlie

I am so sorry for everyone's loss. Please know...you are in my thoughts and Prayers....~Patsy~

Thank you Dave.

Thank you Patsy, he was a special guy. One of our last "riding around trips", he took me to Stewart- Haas to introduce me to some folks he had known a long time.He opened a lot of doors for me with who heknew. It was a lot offun..

It never ceases to amaze me...the People who are put in our Path of Life, that become such inspirations and mentors to us. Those relationships are precious and very rare! Thank God..for the Memories....huh?

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William Thomas Gurley, Jr. DAVIDSON - William Thomas Gurley Jr., 62, of Davidson, N.C., died Saturday, January 25, 2014, at the Serenity House in Mooresville, N.C. He was born on November 20, 1951 in Iredell County and was the son of the late William Thomas Gurley, Sr. and Dorothy Gibson Gurley. He was a 1970 graduate of North Mecklenburg High School, caretaker at Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville and a member at Hopewell Baptist Church in Davidson. Survivors include his wife, Patti Campbell Hamrick of Huntersville; William "Billy" T. Gurley, III of Davidson; a brother, James "Jimmy" Gurley and wife Sherri of Mooresville; sisters, Janet Harwell and husband Eddie of Cleveland, N.C, and Linda Gurley of Davidson. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 2:00 PM, at Hopewell Baptist Church with Sammy Pierce officiating. Burial will follow in church cemetery. The family received friends on Monday, January 27, 2014 at James Funeral Home. Memorials can be made to Hopewell Baptist Church, 18841 Davidson-Concord Road, Davidson, N.C. 28036 and / or Carolina Comfort Coalition, C/O Serenity House, 110 Centre Church Road, Mooresville, N.C. 28117. James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family of Mr. Gurley Jr. and online condolences can be made to jamesfuneralhomelkn.com .

Published in Charlotte Observer on Jan.28,2014

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