Dr. Dean Gurley received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in 1974. From there, he attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN for his graduate studies. He received his O.D. degree in 1980 and soon moved back to Blytheville where he began practicing and has been providing eye care to the community ever since.
Outside the optometric office, he has become a recognizable face in the community helping in a wide variety of areas and has been honored for his work. The award Dr. Gurley is most proud of is the Melvin Jones Award given by the Lions Club recognizing his dedication to humanitarian services. Among those achievements, Dr. Gurley is a well respected eye doctor, not only in Arkansas, but throughout the southeast. He is the Arkansas delegate for the Southeastern Council of Optometrists. He also serves on several other optometric boards throughout Arkansas and the United States in order to preserve the optometric practice. In 2009, Dr. Gurley was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Arkansas Optometric Association for his work.
Dr. Gurley is married to his wife Nancy and they have two children, Katie and Max. He and Nancy's new love is their dog Gracy. Outside of the office he is an excellent golfer winning the Blytheville Country Club championship several times. He is a long-time donor to the University of Arkansas and attends as many Razorback games as possible.