Ralph E. Gurney, Jr.,92, formerly of East Freetown passed away Saturday November 16. He was born on October 15, 1927 to the late Ralph E. Gurney Sr. and Annie Gurney. A graduate of New Bedford Vocational School, Mr. Gurney served in the US Coast Guard during World War II. He married Janice Cree on December 16, 1950. Ralph was a lifetime resident of East Freetown and loved his hometown. He left his hometown only briefly to become the New England race car champion. He served as Tree Warden, volunteer firefighter, cemetery commissioner as well as numerous other roles. Overall he served 186 years in different capacities with the town. He was a member of the East Freetown Congregational Christian Church and a founding member of the 5 C's (Couples Club). In 2006 he was named Freetown Man of the Year for his work on the Veteran's Memorial Park. Mr. Gurney spent his retirement years traveling with his wife, visiting 46 states and Canada. He grew 600 pound pumpkins, maintain his gardens and visited Dunkin Donuts as often as he could.

Mr. Gurney is survived by his wife of 68 years, Janice C. Gurney of Fairhaven; brothers James of Marian and David (Pat) of East Freetown; sisters Joyce Cannon of Wareham and Carol Clark of Hillsborough Ohio; children Susan Costa of Acushnet, Karen Olson (Richard) of Rockford IL, Rhonda Porawski (Ed) of East Freetown and James of Eden Maryland; 8 grandchildren Angela, Felicia, Rachel, Greg, Aaron, Evan, Daniel and Janice; 8 great grandchildren to whom he was fondly known as Papa Bear and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by brother Hartley.

Services will be held at 10am on Saturday November 23, at South Coast Chapel Mortuary, 158 Middleboro Road, East Freetown, Massachusetts. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM on Friday November 22.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either East Freetown Congregational Christian Church or the Hartley Family Trust (c/o Pat Corwin, 215 Cushman Road, Rochester Masachusetts 02770).