Celebration of Life Pastor Scotty Gurulé

Scott Michael Gurule March 29, 1965 – September 26, 2026 Scott Michael Gurule, affectionately known by so many as “Pastor Scotty,” entered Heaven on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the age of 61. Scotty was born on March 29, 1965, in Anaheim, California, to his mother, Nancy Atkins. He was raised in his early life by his grandfather, Jones “Bill” Atkins, lovingly known as Pee-Paw, and was later adopted through marriage. Scotty graduated from Roswell High School in 1983, where he met the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Jamie. Their story began in a way only Scotty’s could: cruising Main Street on his motorcycle in his band uniform, cape flying behind him. He later gave Jamie his senior picture signed simply, “Love, Scooter.” Meeting Jamie would change Scotty’s life forever. She invited him to church, where Scotty had a radical encounter with Jesus Christ that changed the trajectory of his life. Scotty’s early years had not been easy. He knew brokenness, addiction, hardship, and what it meant to grow up without being fathered. But his beginning would not define his ending. Scotty’s life was a miracle. The young man who grew up without being fathered found a Father in God. In Jesus, Scotty found freedom, healing, hope, and purpose—and he never got over what Jesus had done for him. He spent the rest of his life helping hurting and broken people encounter the same Jesus who had rescued him. Scotty and Jamie married when he was 18 and she was 16, beginning a marriage that would span 43 years. Together, they built a family, served Jesus, and walked through more than four decades of life and ministry side by side. After high school, Scotty joined the United States Marine Corps. During his time in the Marines, his passion for telling others about Jesus deepened. What began as a personal encounter with Jesus became a lifelong calling. For the next four decades, Scotty gave his life to loving, encouraging, counseling, discipling, and pointing people to Jesus. After 18 years of being of youth pastoring... in 2002, Scotty founded Covenant Generations Church, where he spent years preaching, pastoring, discipling, and pouring his life into people. Through the ministry of Covenant Generations Church, thousands of people have given their lives to Jesus. But Scotty’s ministry was never confined to a pulpit. It happened across restaurant tables, during countless phone calls, and anywhere someone needed encouragement, prayer, counsel, or simply someone to believe in them. The man who grew up without being fathered became a father to many. He was a friend to countless people, a pastor to all, and a spiritual father to generations. Scotty loved to journal, read and highlight his Bible, and spend the early hours of the morning praying and meeting with Jesus. He also loved his Harley-Davidson. Some of his favorite memories were made riding alongside his wife, his son, and his friends—Sturgis trips, camping trips, biker rallies, and long rides with people he loved. Family remained one of Scotty’s greatest loves. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 43 years, Jamie Gurule; his children, Rachelle Youngberg (Joe), Branden Gurule (Nelly), and Adam Eichelberger (Katie); and nine grandchildren: Abigail, Abel, Joey, Judah, Gabriel, Ian, Elijah, Gus, and Maggie. He also leaves behind his siblings; Antonette Gurule, Wendy Klemmer, Johnny T. Gurule, and Michael Flaherty. Jamie’s Family; Connie Ashabranner (aka Big Mom), the McCreary Family, the Jeri Lynn Popham Family along with countless friends, and a spiritual family whose size could never adequately be captured on a page. Where his story contained absence, Scotty chose presence. Where he had experienced brokenness, he helped others find healing. Where Jesus had met him, he spent the rest of his life helping others meet Jesus too. Scotty’s story does not end here. The Jesus he spent his life telling people about was not merely the God he preached—He was the Savior Scotty knew. Perhaps the greatest way we can honor Pastor Scotty’s life is to continue what he spent his life doing: Make time for others. Love people. Help the hurting. Encourage the broken. Father the fatherless. And tell everyone you can about Jesus!