Gary Lee Scurlock, age 77
January 18, 1944 – March 9, 2021
Gary Lee Scurlock, age 77 of Oblong, Illinois, passed away at home Tuesday, March 9, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral services celebrating Gary’s life will be held at 12:00 PM (Noon) – Friday, March 12, 2021, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with Jack McCormick officiating. Burial will be in the Aten Cemetery in Hidalgo, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 1 hour before the service. In loving memory of Gary, memorials may be made to the Newton Free Methodist Church and can be mailed to the Scurlock Family 106 South Washington Street Oblong, Illinois 62449. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.
Gary was born in Effingham, Illinois, on January 18, 1944, the son of Omar Lowell and Vivian Eloise (Sims) Scurlock. He married Mary Ann Finn on June 7, 1963, at the Free Methodist Church in Newton, Illinois. He graduated from Newton Community High School in 1962.
Gary and Mary Ann lived in Lincoln, Illinois, where Gary worked for the State of Illinois. Upon moving back to Newton, he went to work at Sims Furniture Store and became the owner and trainer of Standardbred horses under Scurlock Stables.
For many years they wintered in Aiken, South Carolina, training horses and in the Spring returned to Newton where they raced at Chicago racetracks, Illinois State Fairs, as well as many county fairs. Throughout his years of training horses, he trained several winners including “Fantastic Dream”, “Juxtaposition” and the first horse to run under 2 minutes in Illinois,
“Time Dancer”. In 1999, they moved to Manteno, Illinois, and he worked for Manteno School District as a bus driver. Upon retirement, they moved to Oblong, Illinois.
Gary was a member of the Newton Free Methodist Church and The U.S. Trotting Association. He enjoyed golf, Church League Softball, basketball and loved to play cards.
Gary is survived by:
Loving wife of 57 years Mary Ann Scurlock of Oblong, Illinois
Daughters – Lori (husband Mark) Kintner of Oblong, Illinois and Lisa (husband Kevin) Dallmier of Menlo, Georgia
Sons – Lance (wife Lynne) Scurlock of Anderson, Indiana and Lyle Scurlock of Anderson, Indiana
Grandchildren – Marcus (wife Jenna) Kintner of Oblong, Illinois, Kali Dallmier of Carrollton, Georgia and Macy Kintner of Oblong, Illinois,
Great-grandchildren – Payton, Brooke, and Hallie Kintner all of Oblong, Illinois
Brother – Burl (wife Eleanor) Scurlock of Newton, Illinois
Sisters – Thelma (husband Jim) Raupp of Decatur, Illinois and Linda Scurlock of Newton, Illinois
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, infant son, grandparents Vera and Doris Sims and his father and mother-in-law John and Goldie Finn.
