Robert “Troy” Gourley, age 74, passed away on March 17, 2026, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.He was born on February 28, 1952, in Elko, Nevada. From the time he was a young boy, Troy found his peace in fishing. It was never just a hobby—it was where he felt closest to stillness, to reflection, and to joy. That quiet love stayed with him throughout his life, becoming a place he returned to again and again.Troy spent 25 years living in Alaska, a place as wild and beautiful as the life he lived. There, surrounded by open waters and endless sky, he made some of his most cherished memories—fishing, reflecting, and simply being present in the world God created.For 25 years, he faithfully served as pastor of Cross Roads Baptist Church in North Pole, Alaska. His life was a testimony of his faith. He didn’t just preach the Word—he lived it. He walked beside people in their hardest moments, carried burdens that weren’t his own, and loved others with a steady, quiet strength that never wavered.Troy was known for his kind heart, his gentle spirit, and his unwavering faith—even when life asked more of him than seemed possible to bear. But he was also known for his laughter. He loved to joke, to laugh, and to pick on the people he loved most—always in a way that made you feel included, never left out. His humor was part of his love language, and it brought light even into the heaviest moments.Above all, he was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grandfather. His family was his heart. He led not with words alone, but with patience, sacrifice, and love. Everything he did was rooted in caring for those he loved most.He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carolyn “Denise” Gourley of Pensacola, Florida; his daughter, Andrea Jarrard, and her husband, James Jarrard, of Westville, Florida; and granddaughters Holly Jarrard, 22, and Eva Jarrard, 8.He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Lineth Sarte-Gourley, and grandchildren Robert James “Bobby” Gourley, 25; Rebecca Jeanne “Rae” Gourley, 22; Bien Matthieu Sarte, 12; and Robert Sebastian “Sebby” Gourley, 5, all of Pensacola, Florida; as well as Noah Jacob Gourley, 20, and Nathaniel Josiah Gourley, 16, both of Kapolei, Hawaii.His extended family includes his brother- and sister-in-law, Sandy and David Moore; niece Sarah Smith (David) and their children, all of China Grove, North Carolina; nephew Stephen Moore of Concord, North Carolina; brother- and sister-in-law Jimmy and Sheila Hyde; nephews Randy Hyde and Curtis Hyde, both of Concord, North Carolina; niece Elizabeth Hyde of Mooresville, North Carolina; niece Kayla Owens (Josh) of Stanfield, North Carolina; and nieces Brittanie Hyde and her children, and Allisyn Hyde, of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina.Troy was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Roy Gourley and Marguerite Gourley, as well as his mother-in-law, Janette Hyde, and father-in-law, B.R. Hyde.He also carried a loss that forever changed him—the passing of his son, Robert “Shawn” Gourley. It was a grief he bore quietly, but deeply. In many ways, it took a piece of his heart with it. Now, after only five months apart, we find comfort in knowing they are reunited—father and son together again.Though our hearts are broken, we hold on to the truth he lived by. We imagine him now at peace, hearing the words he so faithfully believed in: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.