Thelma Audrey Gurske-Taylor

Thelma (Fuller) Gurske-Taylor, age 99, passed away on October 23, 2026, in Bremerton. Born in 1927 to Victor and Gladys Fuller, she grew up in Navy Yard City with sister June and brother Victor Jr.

At age 14, Thelma worked the summer in the Navy cafeteria in Navy Yard Puget Sound, later known as Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. At 16, she was a helper for shipfitters on War-damaged ships during the summer and served as a messenger during the school year. After a brief stint as a switchboard operator for Ma Bell in 1944, she returned to the Navy Yard to satisfy Bremerton High School's office practice credits by working in the Employment Office. After high school graduation in June of 1945, she went full time in the shipyard but ended up typing her own Reduction in Force notice in September.

Thelma next worked at the National Bank of Washington on Callow Avenue, which led to meeting Gene Gurske in 1946. He had attended Bremerton High and was a returning Navy veteran. She invited Gene to the bank's picnic on the Hood Canal, and they married a year later. They built their home in Navy Yard City on Property given to them by Thelma's parents. Son Greg was born in late 1950, followed by Stan in 1952and Denise in 1953.

With parents living next door to help with childcare, Thelma earned a teaching certificate with a master's degree. After 19 years in South Kitsap and Bremerton schools, she and Gene both retired. They traveled to every state except Maine, plus they traveled through 16 European countries with railroad passes and backpacks. Avid bicyclers, along with 500 others, they biked on I-90 to the Spokane Exposition World Fair in 1974, plus they biked the Hawaiian Islands and many other places. When home, they logged their miles in Bremerton's Swim pool and kept busy with outdoor work. Thelma was a longtime member of Bremerton's First Christion Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of Norway, Kitsap County School Retirees, and Kitsap Computing Seniors. Her hobbies were keeping up with her family, friends, and many computer projects. In 2002, her husband, Gene, unexpectedly passed away from a viral lung infection. Thelma not only lost a loving husband, but their children lost a great dad. Two years later, widower Don Taylor called Thelma. He was nothing like Gene, but when they finally decided to marry, they sold their homes and purchased a new condo overlooking Lions Park in East Bremerton. Ten good years later Don fell and broke his hip and felt he had lived long enough and passed away at age 95.

Thelma is survived by her son Greg and his wife Barbara, 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. As planned, Thelma is buried beside her husband, Gene, in Bremerton's Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park