Grant Gurley (1980-2024)
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to CBC High School in the name of James Grant Gurley, Class of 1999.
Grant Gurley Obituary
Grant Gurley (1980 – 2024)
James Grant Gurley passed away on April 18, 2024. While leaving us far too soon at age 43,
Grant left a trail of accomplishments, friends and memories that will live far beyond his years.
Athletics was his passion and love. He played on two state championship teams at CBC High
School in St. Louis: hockey and lacrosse. He also later coached CBC and Lindbergh High
School lacrosse teams, with Lindbergh winning its first-ever state championship while he was on
staff.
Grant was a highly-focused athlete. Unlike many of his peers, he chose to devote the majority of
his time to one sport at a time. The first was baseball. He was a gifted fielder with a strong,
accurate arm. Grant gave up baseball for hockey, starting his journey at the Affton Athletic
Association. He was a prolific goal scorer and played on many winning travel teams at Affton.
His greatest moment was scoring three goals in the last minute of a game against Webster
Groves, the final game-winner coming with three seconds left. He continued that hockey journey
at CBC and was able to play with some of the greatest players in the state as teammates.
Grant moved on from hockey after his junior year at CBC to join the school’s first lacrosse team.
Like many of his teammates, he had never played lacrosse. The team was made up of many of
his hockey teammates, who were no strangers to a tough, hard-hitting sport. While he was a
goal scorer in hockey, he chose to play defense in lacrosse and became one of the team’s best
defenders and passers. He loved stops and assists. Grant went on to be a key member of the
Southern Illinois University club lacrosse team.
What tops all of these moments was Grant’s devotion to coaching and teaching lacrosse after
his playing days. He became a student of the game. Grant not only loved working with the kids,
but he really enjoyed the parents.
Grant had an eclectic professional career. He worked with our family in two businesses: Redbird Advisors and Vail (Colorado) Capital Partners (VCP). At VCP, he was part of the company’s property management division. Like many who venture to the mountains of Colorado, Grant utilized his athletic skills to becomes an accomplished downhill skier. For Redbird, Grant helped us get established in the early years of the company. Grant also loved his time in the restaurant industry. He loved cooking, which he often did at home. Like lacrosse, he became a student.
Grant leaves a family that will greatly miss him, including his son Connor, brother Drew (Carrie) Gurley, and parents Sheila and Todd, all of St. Louis, Missouri. He is also survived by his grandmother Janet Gurley, of Rogers, Arkansas.
Our family also thanks all those who helped and supported him throughout the years. A special
thanks goes to Meghan Burke who cared for, comforted and loved him in his final days.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Christian Brothers College High
School in the name of James Grant Gurley, class of 1999.
Celebration of Life
In lieu of flowers, please consider using the link below to donate to CBC High School in the name of James Grant Gurley, Class of 1999.