Althea Hurst

Althea Hurst was born February 5, 1944 in Townsend, Montana to the late Russell and Bertie Hurst.  She peacefully went home to Jesus December 3, 2023.

She was the sixth child of seven and was raised by her grandparents, Pat and Clara Bears, after losing her parents at a young age.  She graduated high school in 1962 from White Sulphur Springs, Montana.  After working as the high school secretary, she relocated to the Glasgow Air Force Base.  Althea was a skilled secretary throughout her life.  When the Glasgow base closed, she transferred to Georgia working there until moving to Seymour in 1983.  She worked as the secretary at L&M Ford and then managed Big Cheese Pizza until 2006.  She said, “retirement” did not suit her so she then became a Sam’s Club Food Demonstrator for a few years. She always enjoyed greeting the public.  She completed her professional work chapter working at Super Stop in Seymour until 2019.

Althea was very kind hearted.  She was very selfless and always thinking of others and concerned for their welfare.  She did numerous acts of kindness for so many, most of the time anonymously.  Her employees at Big Cheese Pizza were affectionately known as her “kids” through the years and she bought numerous prom and sport picture packages.  Althea can be described as loyal, honest, trustworthy, respectful, hardworking, stubborn, and very caring.  She gave her all in all she did.

The most important thing in the world to Althea was her family.  Living so far away she kept in touch with weekly phone calls and typed letters.  She was always going above and beyond for her family, and she lit up talking about her nieces and nephews who lovingly called her ‘Bunny’.  She enjoyed visiting them all over the country as well, even though the trips were few and far between.

Althea was very involved in her home church, the Presbyterian Church in Seymour.  She also enjoyed going to many Panther events through the years, no doubt Randy was her favorite Panther.  She was a special part of the Ron Lawrence family since arriving in Seymour.

She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.  She had a fun, brutally honest sense of humor and never cooperated taking pictures for anyone.  Her big heart touched many lives and she will never be forgotten. She was an angel on earth.

This past year she was a resident in the Munday Nursing Center and enjoyed friends and family visits.  She formed special relationships with the staff and was especially fond of her favorite lil visitor, whom she affectionately renamed, “John Henry”. Her family is very thankful for the loving care she received at MNC.

Althea is survived by her sisters, Dorothy Haynes of Belgrade, Montana, Nell Johnson of Helena, Montana, Donna Johnson of Roseau, Minnesota, and brother, Ray Hurst of Watauga, TX as well as 17 nieces and nephews, 34 great nieces and nephews, and 24 great great nieces and nephews and her ‘Texas Family’. Althea was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, great aunts, uncles and cousins, four nephews and her sisters, Betty Daily and Barbara Stillman.

A memorial service will be held Friday, December 8, 2023 at 2:00 at the Presbyterian Church in Seymour under the direction of Archer Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made in her memory to the Munday Nursing Center Activity Fund, The Ronald McDonald House or the First Presbyterian Church of Seymour.