R.M. "Mollie" Hurley

Ruby Movoline “Mollie” Hurley, 90, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 3, 2013, at 5:00 AM at her home in Abilene. Dr. Don Wilson will lead the funeral service at 2:00 PM on Friday, September 6, 2013, at First Christian Church, 1420 North 3rd. Visitation will be at Elliott Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory St., from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, September 5, 2013. Burial will be at Elmwood Memorial Park, 5750 Hwy. 277 South.

Mollie Hurley was born on May 10, 1923, to W. Bascom McLeroy and Mattie (Anderson) McLeroy near Sulphur Springs, Texas. She was the oldest of their three daughters that included Pauline Carpenter Grayson and Jo McCain. The Great Depression of the 1930’s in rural East Texas set the conservative and saving nature of this sweet lady. Her mother and father operated a 150 acre farm and sold produce to the Dallas – Greenville – Sulphur Springs area.

At sixteen, Mollie met V. Weldon Hurley who went to work on the McLeroy farm. They were soon married, and she became the second mom to his daughter, Jan. Then after the couple had two daughters, Rita (Riewe) and Joan (Wallick), they moved to West Texas, to the Wingate/Happy Valley area. There they had their son, Mac Leroy Hurley. After struggling through the drought of the 1950’s trying to ranch and farm, the young couple moved on to Winters and then Abilene, where Weldon went to work in the oil fields of the 1950’s and 1960’s. While Weldon was the premier dozer operator of the area, Mollie was a homemaker primarily.

She was a loyal, faithful member of First Christian Church and the Searchers Sunday School Class for over 50 years. In caring for others, she loved working Vacation Bible School, caring for children in the nursery, assisting with baptisms, and helping to serve at new member luncheons and bereavement meals. She had a knack for searching out those in need of a friend, particularly the elderly as she entered those years herself. She was a caregiver to numerous homebound and bedridden friends and acquaintances. She embodied the spirit of Christ.

As her children began graduating from high school, gaining their independence, and marrying their spouses; Bob Boggan, Cliff Riewe, Glen Wallick and Jane Chaney, Mollie soon had a full time job helping take care of grandchildren from Amy to Zan. Mollie also went to work as a seamstress at Dee’s Cleaners, Uniform Services and finally at Rita Barber’s. After working twenty-seven years at Rita Barber’s, she retired in the early 1990’s.

In retirement she continued to volunteer by helping prepare the weekly church newsletter for mailing with her dear friends, Kate Lowe, Louise Connally, Brenda Harris and Tony Salisbury.

Mollie’s name gradually became “Granny Hurley” as grandkids multiplied. Grandchildren included Amy (Cox) and LeAnn (Prickett) Boggan; Melody (Veal) and Philip Riewe; Stacy (Rawlins), Justin and Jason and Darla (Eason) Wallick; Jill (Smith), Beth (Dukes) and Zan (Jayroe) Hurley. The next generation continued the chant of “Granny.” Great-grandchildren include Amy’s – Stephen and Robert Jewel, and Daniel Cervantes; LeAnn’s – Codi Oberg; Melody’s – Dalton and Sawyer Veal; Philip’s – Kyndal and Kayla Riewe; Justin’s – Christopher Wallick; Jason’s – Benjamin Wallick; Jill’s – Emily and Cade Smith; Beth’s -- Mollie and Ben Dukes; and, Zan’s – Belle and Hope Jayroe .

Gatherings at Granny’s house were the highlight of any holiday or birthday. Her yeast rolls and apricot fried pies were legendary. Her cookie jars were never empty. She could turn simple produce from the garden and game from the field into a feast of plenty.

Her long life and quiet struggle with health issues demonstrated her understanding of perseverance. She endured and by doing so endeared herself to both family and friends. Even to the very end, she was more concerned with asking “How are you doing?” than with what she was feeling.

Pallbearers will include grandsons; Philip Riewe, Jason Wallick, and Justin Wallick; grandsons-in-law, Jerry Veal, Sean Rawlins; Jason Smith, Kris Jayroe and Dan Dukes; and great-grandson Dalton Veal.

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, West Texas Rehabilitation Center or the Ben Richey Boys Ranch.