Jewel Gruer

Jewel Susan Gruer

Jewel was born to John & Wilhelmina Kroll Gourley of Springfield, MA on October 28, 1937. Her older brother John Jr. wanted to name her Fern Myrtle but her mama prevailed and named her baby: Jewel Susan Gourley.

Jewel graduated from high school in 1955 and proudly earned her BA 30 yrs later from UTPB in 1985.

During the intervening years, she met and married enlisted Airman Wm E (Bill) Gruer; adopted her children Lynn and Mark; served in PTA, Girl Scouts, creating/performing puppets, and family camping as we moved around the Midwest. She and Bill settled in Dallas in 1988.

Jewel traveled to Romania in 1989 on her first short-term mission trip and the rest is history.

Over the next 25 years she traveled to 23 countries - including Cuba, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Russia, and Uganda - spanning 5 continents sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and becoming known as “Joya” everywhere she went. Joya is the Spanish word for Jewel.

Jewel loved walking with people, talking, and laughing. She loved her toy poodles. She loved her family fiercely, but any new person she met was welcomed into her home with open arms.

We already miss our mother, grand and great-grandmother; our cousin, auntie, and dear friend… but oh how glorious was her homecoming into her Heavenly Father’s arms! And with what anticipation and joy do we hope to join her one day!

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Jewel leaves behind her daughter, and her daughter's family, Lynn & Mark Mattay (Morgan Mattay; Molly & Tanner Ward and Charlie; Nathanael & Erica Mattay and Ezra, Eden, & Rohan; Naomi & Christopher Davis) and her son Mark Gruer.

As well as her lifelong friend and cousin Kathleen Kroll; and her nieces Gail Gourley Ouellette and Traci Gourley Lemieux.

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Our family would especially like to thank Susan at Guardian Angels Group Home who cared for Jewel with unequaled gentleness and love.

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Her family will hold a Zoom Memorial Service at noon Saturday, March 25, 2023 for her friends in the states and overseas.

Join Zoom Memorial Service
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89050956408?pwd=V2dMMWs4QmZaMzVyU1YvOFYvQTYyZz09

Meeting ID: 890 5095 6408
Passcode: 854019

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Vickery Trading Company, an organization Jewel would have loved:
https://vickerytrading.org/pages/donate

Please write: “In memory of Jewel Gruer” in comments