Ola Rae Gurganus | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Ola Rae Gurganus, age 83, a resident of Bath, died Thursday, August 8, 2024, at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital.

    A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

    Ola was born on August 14, 1940, in Beaufort County, to the late Marvin Franklin and Callie Elliott Curtis. She was a 1958 graduate of Washington High School. Ola retired as an assembler at Stanadyne and was a member of Bath Church of God. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Curtis Lilley. Ola loved her family, especially her grandchildren dearly.

    Ola Rae shared a deep love for her husband of 66 years, her 4 children, her 9 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and her 3 sisters throughout the years. The simplest pleasures in life brought her great joy over the years from early morning fishing trips to Sunday nascar days. Many memories have been made on the water or gathered around with the race on the TV. She enjoyed being surrounded by loved ones and spent many nights and weekends with children and grandchildren at the home she shared with Buster. She had an uncanny ability to bring the family together and created the most loving environment to raise a family in. The love her family holds in their hearts for her will never waver and the life lessons she taught and instilled in all of us will carry on into the future generations of life she helped bring into this world. Though she may not be here physically we know she is here guiding us every day with the strength and determination that she passed down to all of us. Ola Rae was truly the matriarch of the Gurganus family and will forever be with us.

    Survivors include her husband, Floyd Earl "Buster" Gurganus, whom she married on September 9, 1957, her children, Floyd Martin "Marty" Gurganus of Greenville, Gregory Earl Gurganus (Sylvia) of Bath, Judy K. Gurganus of Washington, and Kathy Dupree (Claude "C.T.") of Washington, sisters, (Her twin) Lola Grey Davenport of Grifton and Wanda Curtis of Greenville, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, Beaufort County Humane Society, P.O. Box 33 Washington, NC 27889

    Condolences may be addressed to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Gurganus family.