John Kennedy “Jack” Gurner, Sr., 90, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford. Jack was born Jan. 21, 1927 in Water Valley, Miss., and was a son of the late B. G. Gurner and Margaret Kennedy Gurner. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was an electronics technician with the Columbia Gulf Natural Gas Transmission System until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Water Valley and served on the board of trustees.

He is survived by a son, John Kennedy “Jack” Gurner, Jr. and his wife, Jessie of Water Valley, MS; and a grandson, John Jason Gurner of Birmingham, AL. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Nell Groves Gurner; a son, Marvin Douglas Gurner; his brother, Bruce Gurner; and his sisters, Tommy Mae Bessent, Margaret Wolfe and Nell Jackson.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 at First United Methodist Church in Water Valley at 2 p.m. with Rev. Allen McGraw officiating. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. prior to the service. A private graveside service will be held at Oak Hill cemetery.