Obituary of Gloria Doris Scurfield

July 10, 1922 – January 30, 2023
Native of Sacramento
Friends and family will gather in Santa Cruz on March 15 to honor and
remember the blessed life of Gloria Scurfield who passed away at her
home in Aptos at the age of 100 with family by her side.
Gloria was born to Clifford and Doris Beyer in Sacramento. She
attended C.K. McClatchy High School and Sacramento Junior College,
where she received her associate’s degree. Gloria was a member of
Gamma Delta Sorority and was talented in art and drawing, which led to
a career as a topographical draftsman later in life.
Gloria enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1943 and, following boot camp
at Marine Corps Base Lejeune, was stationed at Marine Corps Base
Quantico where she designed topographical maps during WWII.
Following her discharge from the armed forces, she returned to
Sacramento, but the ocean air was her tonic. Gloria often told of the
summertime trips she took with her family as a little girl from
Sacramento over a very rural Highway 17. Her favorite childhood
memory was smelling the ocean air and anticipating her arrival in
Seabright as their Model A Ford crested the summit.
She moved to Aptos in 1994 to be near her family. Gloria didn’t care to
travel or take vacations. “Just take me to Seabright Beach, that’s the only
place I need to go,” she would often say.
Gloria was involved in numerous charitable organizations including
Mercy Hospital Guild, Newcomers Club, Junior League, and Dominican
Hospital Guild. She was very creative and artistic, loved to garden, and
adored animals - especially dogs & ducks! However, she always said that
her greatest life achievement was being a mother and “Mimi” to her
grandchildren.
She is survived by her son Geoffrey Scurfield; son and daughter-in-law
John E. Scurfield Jr. and Zoie Scurfield; her daughter and son-in-law Jill
and Michael Bates; grandchildren and their spouses: Austin and Erin
Bates, Jackie and Buster Brown, René and Justin Orozco, Drake
Fennelly; great grandchildren: Jackson and Ryan Bates, Cody Brown,
Mia and Gregory Orozco; and her nieces and nephews: Jane Weaver,
Judy Whitney, David Whelan, and Dave & Steve Scurfield. Gloria was
preceded in death by her husband, Jack Scurfield, in 1993; her son, Greg
Scurfield, in 2013; and nephew, Don Scurfield, in 2017.
A memorial ceremony, concluding with military honors, will be held at
Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel at 11am on March 15, 2023. It
was Gloria’s wish that everyone wear bright, happy colors, no black or
dark attire. A private committal off the coast of Seabright Beach will be
held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her
memory to Santa Cruz SPCA or Hospice of Santa Cruz County.