Johnnie Hurst

Longtime Gainesville resident Johnnie Hurst, 95, passed away peacefully from this life on January 23, 2016. She was continually comforted in her final days by her children, grandson, and son-in-law.

Johnnie was born near the community of Lois, Texas on August 29, 1920, to William and Mary Harlow Waggoner. She was reared by her step-father and mother, Jim and Mary Dooley along with her five sisters and three brothers. Johnnie learned the value of strong work ethics and of a loving family at a young age.

Johnnie married Willard Hurst on February 27, 1939, and they had two children, James and Phyllis. They were married for 31 years before Willard passed on October 23, 1970.

Johnnie worked at Linda Jo Shoe Company for 25 years. Then, in 1975, she began working at the Gainesville Memorial Hospital in the surgery department. Johnnie happily worked at GMH for 26 years where she had the honor of being the first recipient of the Employee of the Month award.

In her earlier years, Johnnie loved helping with her children’s activities at school. She was a “Room Mother,” very active in the Robert E. Lee elementary school’s PTA and was a Brownie Leader. She loved caring for and cooking for her family. Her two grandchildren brought her much joy and happiness, and she spent much time with them each weekend.

Johnnie loved being out in the country caring for her calves, picking up pecans and feeding the wildlife. The family shared many camping and fishing adventures at the Red River. She also loved to play the domino game “42” and was known as “Two Trump Johnnie.”

For the last two decades of her life, Johnnie loved to travel with her daughter and son-in-law, making several trips a year to Branson, MO and Eureka Springs, AR. She also accompanied them to the State of Washington several times to visit their son and her grandson, Randy. Together, they toured the Olympic Peninsula stopping to ferry to Victoria, British Columbia. She thoroughly enjoyed her tour of Victoria on a double-decker bus and especially visiting the Butchard Gardens. Johnnie also enjoyed traveling to California to visit her relatives. In her later years, she enjoyed being at home tending her cats, especially her beloved Charcoal.

Johnnie was a devoted member of Temple Baptist Church and enjoyed their activities for seniors until her failing health prevented her from being an active part of those activities.

Johnnie is survived by her son James Hurst, daughter Phyllis and and her husband Ray Moore, grandson Randy Hutson, sister-in-law Mary Dooley, many loving nieces and nephews in Texas, Oklahoma, and California, and many dear friends. She is also survived by three step-grandchildren, Shauna Reed, Jim Moore, Kim Dane and their families. She was known as Nannie Hurst to step-great-granddaughters Ashton James and Brianna Moore.

Johnnie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her granddaughter Kelly Hutson, her son-in-law Jimmy Hutson, her brothers Joe Dooley, Roy Dooley, Walter Dooley, her sisters Carrie Sloan, Frances Hemphill, Frances Lillard, Lillie Robarge, Millie Haney, and several nieces and nephews and many, many dear friends.

Funeral arrangements are arranged with Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home in Gainesville where visitation will be held on January 26, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at Temple Baptist Church with Pastor Dr. Eddie Chennault officiating and Bro. Larry Huffman assisting. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery immediately following the service.

Pallbearers will be son-in-law Ray Moore, grandson Randy Hutson, step-grandson Jim Moore, nephew Bill Haney, great-nephew Paul Johnson, and great-great-nephew Eddie Schumacher.