[10] Following her death, The Sociological Review wrote that 'the classical culture and ancient philosophy of [her] Oxford days remained always the substantial background of her mind.

But after passing through the School of Literae Humaniores, she took up economic studies... and was deeply influenced by John Stuart Mill's plea for voluntary co-operation'.

[3] Immediately upon completing her studies at Oxford, Gurney began to focus on practical efforts towards social reform, inspired particularly by the ideas of cooperation and the work of the Labour Co-partnership Association.

While fully equipped for thinking in abstractions and taking broad and comprehensive views of life and progress, she never lost touch with the concrete.

[3] Matthew Wilson has situated Gurney 'as part of an idealistic circle of thinkers which included Patrick Geddes, [who] considered sociology as a means to realize complete Garden City-states based upon scientific, ethical, and participatory principles'.

[2] The Woman's Leader remembered her as a person 'of singular vitality, versatility and charm, joined with a remarkable gift for friendship and power of inspiring others'.