Deborah Ann McGurk

Deborah Ann (Tyler) McGurk beloved disciple, wife, mother, teacher and friend, passed away on Sunday, October 14 at Mercy Hospital after a 10 month battle with cancer. She was born in Santa Barbara and lived there until the age of 14 when her family moved to the Santa Ynez Valley. She graduated from High School there, attended Allan Hancock College (where she was ASB President) and went on to receive her BA degree from Westmont College in Montecito. She started a successful summer day camp program for the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church and it was there she met and married Dave McGurk. After a year of marriage, they felt a call into ministry and moved to Princeton, NJ where Dave went to seminary while Debbie worked at Merrill Lynch Assessment Management in the legal department. After graduation they returned to California to Merced, where Debbie began her career as an educator. She held a clear CA teaching credential and taught kindergarten but found being a reading specialist fit better with her life. She loved all of her students especially her friend Stacy whom she tutored for over 25 years. She was a Deacon at Central Presbyterian Church and initiated their Deacons’ Shepherding program. Her true joy though was in being a mom to Mattie and Tyler. She taught their Sunday School classes and volunteered in their classrooms. Her dedication to motherhood was unmatched; she never missed a ballet recital, soccer, baseball, or basketball game, or any school event. She held down the home front so Dave could be available to the congregation. She was the “fun mom” who took weekly trips to the beach during the summer with a car load of kids.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, James M. Tyler and Chloe (Wilder) Tyler, and her brother Master Gunnery Sergeant Greg S. Tyler, USMC retired. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Dave McGurk, her children, Mattie Ann of Clovis, CA and Tyler James of Malibu, CA, sister Tracey Wingereid, many in-laws and nieces and nephews, as well as friends she considered to be family.

In lieu of flowers the family asks you to donate to Central Presbyterian Church, the Salvation Army Helping Hands Program, Merced or Endurance (with Jan and Dave Dravecky). Debbie’s Celebration of Life and Witness to the Resurrection service will be held at Central Presbyterian Church, 520 W. 20th Street, Merced, at 11:00 am on Monday, October 29th.