Esther (Smith) Gurkin

Esther Smith Gurkin, age 91, resident of Moscow, Tennessee and wife of the late J.C. Gurkin, departed this life Saturday morning, February 10, 2018 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

Services of Remembrance for Mrs. Gurkin were conducted at 11 A.M. Saturday, February 17, 2018 at the Moscow United Methodist Church with Rev. Frank Smith officiating. He was assisted by Rev. Bill Marler and Rev. James Graham. Interment followed in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery at Moscow. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center – Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mrs. Gurkin was born May 21, 1926 in Savannah, Tennessee. She was a graduate of Central High School in Savannah, Nashville Business College and Peabody College of Education in Nashville. She was married July 27, 1951 to J.C. Gurkin and she was a member of the Moscow United Methodist Church where she was one of the adult leaders of the youth group. Mrs. Gurkin was an officer at Fayette Cares and was employed at the Department of Human Services over Fayette and Haywood counties for 53 years, retiring as the manager. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, preparing food, canning, needlepoint, collecting antiques and traveling with the Cub Scouts as a Den Mother. She will be remembered for being a generous person and she loved special times with her granddaughter.

Mrs. Gurkin is survived by two sons, J Whitten Gurkin of Memphis, TN, Daniel Smith Gurkin of Memphis, TN; her daughter-in-law, Candice Lee Cain-Gurkin of Memphis, TN; her sister, Doris Hudson of Savannah, TN; two brothers, Bro. Frank Smith of Columbia, TN, Lawrence L. Smith, Jr. (Buntye) of Savannah, TN; her granddaughter, Whitley Blair Gurkin of Memphis, TN; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. Gurkin who died December 15, 1998; her parents, Lawrence L. Smith and Mamie Young Smith; and two sisters, Ruby Smith Yeiser and Zubia Smith Parrott.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Joseph Yeiser, Colton B. Hudson, Bobby Smith, Ronald Lewis, George Gurkin, Charles Gurkin, Robert Harris, Michael Robinson and Pittman Gurkin, Jr.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fayette Cares, P.O. Box 326, Somerville, TN 38068.