Margaret Hurley

Margaret Hurley was a woman of values, learned from loving parents and shared with family and friends. A person who believed in hard work and enjoying the benefits such work provided, Margaret was a dedicated wife and mother. Whether socializing or attending one of her clubs, traveling to exciting new places, or spending time with her children and grandchildren, her life was full of blessings.

In the year 1915, life was changing rapidly. Under the direction of President Woodrow Wilson, the United States was embracing the industrial revolution, and Americans everywhere celebrated the completion of the one millionth Ford automobile. Although current events were definitely exciting, for Frank and Ethel Kelly of Detroit, Michigan, the most exciting event of the year was the much-awaited birth of their first child. On July 15, 1915, the couple delighted in welcoming their daughter, Margaret Evelyn, in to their hearts and home. Margaret would soon be the protective big sister to four younger siblings: Frank Jr., Barbara, Jack and Lois. As a little girl, Margaret loved to play with dolls, so when it came to helping her mom with her brothers and sisters, she was a natural.

Margaret grew up in Detroit. Her father worked a variety of occupations to provide for the family, some of which included owning a gas station and bar and later became a farmer, while her mother was a devoted homemaker. Her family was very proud of their Irish heritage so socializing was a big part of their home life. Both sides of her parents’ families would come out to the farm for holidays and get togethers, so Margaret had lots of cousins around to play with. She was especially close with her cousin, Betty, and they even lived together for a time while growing up. For her education, Margaret attended the area schools and graduated from Detroit Central in 1934. She aspired to be a teacher and went on to attend Wayne State University for a year.

During the summer after college, Margaret met George Hurley at her parents’ cottage. They were on a double blind date together – Margaret with George’s friend, and George with Margaret’s friend, Vi. After that night, though, George and Margaret were the ones dating, and it wasn’t long before they were in love. Because George was Irish Catholic and Margaret was Protestant, the two were happily married at the priest’s house in May 1936. Margaret eventually converted to Catholicism in 1961, though in the meantime, she regularly attended Mass with her husband at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Detroit and later St. Monica’s in Kalamazoo.

George and Margaret were blessed with two wonderful children: Dennis born in 1941, and Judy in 1944. While George provided for the family as an engineer at Ford Motor Co., Margaret devoted herself to the role of a mother, wanting to raise her children well. She was active in the PTA, Cub Scouts as a Den Mother and a Girl Scout Leader, always supporting her kids in everything they did. She also taught Dennis and Judy proper manners and etiquette, instilling the importance of values like honesty, hard work and generosity, while also stressing the significance of education. When it came to family vacations, the Hurleys enjoyed renting a cottage on a lake somewhere, or heading east. When the kids were younger, the family had a cocker spaniel named Jingles, who was the thorn in Margaret’s side. She was not particularly an animal lover, and Jingles certainly had a mind of his own, but they learned to tolerate each other.

Always very charming and outgoing, Margaret was a true social bug with many friends. She was involved with several clubs in which she had many friends, including the Ladies Library Association, Westwood Garden Club, Newcomers’ Club, the “Out to Lunch Bunch”, as well as a member of the Elks. Margaret and George were also members of the Detroit Yacht Club. After her kids were grown, Margaret volunteered at Bloomfield Georgean Nursing Home, helping with the social activities, which was a perfect job for this “socialite.” Because of George’s work, the couple had the opportunity to travel abroad to Brazil and Europe and enjoyed several relaxing cruises too. On one particular cruise, Margaret caught a sailfish, which she had mounted and hung over her sofa at home. In fact, it is featured in several of her daughter Judy’s wedding pictures, in the background of course. Eventually, Margaret and George moved from Detroit to the Kalamazoo area to be closer to their daughter Judy and their grandkids. Here, Margaret spent her leisure time reading, playing bridge and going to her garden club, though she didn’t have a garden. She always kept a clean house and made sure her appearance was just as meticulous, visiting a salon often to get her hair done. One of her favorite expressions was “. . . but bless her little heart.”

Of all the wonderful things in Margaret’s life, time spent with her loved ones towered above all the rest. She loved to be surrounded by her family, and loved spending her time being a wife, mother and grandmother which was her greatest joy. She will be deeply missed.

Margaret Evelyn Hurley, age 93, of Portage, MI, died on Friday, December 5, 2008, at her home. Learn more about Margaret, view her Life Story Film and visit with family and friends while sharing some refreshments on Monday, December 8, from 4-7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900). Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 9, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Monica Catholic Church. Please join the family for a luncheon following the mass in the parish hall.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 53 years, George Hurley, and two siblings: Frank Kelly Jr. and Barbara Schiller. Margaret is survived by two children: Dennis (Kathleen) Hurley of White Lake, MI and Judith (William) Sherrod of Kalamazoo; six grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; two siblings: Jack (Nancy) Kelly of Hartland, MI and Lois Lueb of Holly, MI; and many nieces and nephews. Please visit Margaret’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo with her family or sign her online guest book. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Red Cross Disaster Fund or St. Monica Catholic Church.