Toni L. Hurt

Toni Lou Canales Hurt was born on March 5, 1945 in El Paso, Texas, baptized into the Catholic faith on June 13, 1945 at St. Joseph Church, and passed peacefully in her home surrounded by her adoring family on January 16, 2025. Toni Lou was a native El Pasoan and a first generation American. Her father, Antonio “Tony” Canales and her mother, Carmen Tschantre Canales, emigrated from Mexico during the early 1920’s and established the Tony Canales Photo Studio on Yandell Boulevard. She attended Coldwell Elementary School and Austin High School, graduating with the class of 1963. At Austin, at the young age of 15, Toni met and began dating her future husband, Hampton Hurt. They married in 1965 and she passed away nine days short of their sixtieth anniversary. Toni is predeceased by her parents, Tony and Carmen Canales, and her grandson Joshua Tovar. She is survived by her husband, Hampton Hurt II, her children Hampton Hurt III (Anna), Sally Hurt-Deitch (Greg), and Nancy Tovar (Aaron), as well as her grandchildren Adam Tovar (Lex), Grace Lucas, Karlie Partie (Steven), Patrick Tovar (Gianna), Hampton Hurt IV, Zachary Deitch, Joseph Hurt, William Steffen, Caden Deitch, Samuel Steffen, Major Deitch and great-grandchildren Noah, Dillon and Eleanor Tovar.

Toni was a long-time educator with the El Paso Independent School District. Her career started at Lamar Elementary School, where she taught eighth grade English and Social Studies. Her desire to impact children’s lives caused Toni to evaluate other job opportunities. She moved to her alma mater, Austin High School, as an Assistant Counselor and in 1974 became the Student Activities Manager (SAM). Her appointment to this position was significant, as she was the first female SAM in the school district. Toni served as the SAM for her beloved Austin Panthers from 1974 to 1994 and for the Burges Mustangs from 1994 until her retirement in 2000. She loved her job and loved the students with whom she worked. The teenagers she came into contact with were searching for mentoring, desiring leadership opportunities, and direction in their lives. Toni provided that through Student Council opportunities, leadership development classes and workshops, public speaking and presentation events, and interactions with students from other high schools locally, in Texas and across the United States. She became so involved in their lives that they continued to seek out her guidance as adults. A month did not go by without a former student calling, emailing or texting to check in, to invite Toni to an event (usually a class reunion), or to remind her how important she was in their lives.

Toni’s life after retirement did not slow down and in fact, became busier than when she worked full-time in the busy high schools. She volunteered with the Cielo Vista Elementary School PTA, Cielo Vista Optimist Club, Cielo Vista Neighborhood Association, El Paso Track and Field Association, and represented her fellow citizens and tax-payers on numerous El Paso ISD committees. Of the many volunteer positions she enthusiastically accepted, her most treasured are those associated with her Catholic faith and church, St. Joseph. Toni was a Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister, Parish Council member and the first Regent of the Catholic Daughters St. Joseph Protector of Families Court #2775. She also served on Women’s A.C.T.S. retreat teams and maintained a strong bond to her Faith Sharing group for over 10 years.

Her greatest joy in life came from her family – her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A football coach’s wife for her entire adult life, Toni was steadfast in her support of her husband’s coaching career. She rarely missed one of Hampton’s team’s games and sat through sun, rain, wind and snow as she cheered on the boys. Football and other athletic events were a consistent part of Toni’s life and even included feeding a multitude of coaches on countless weekends as they prepared for the following week’s games. She enjoyed the “thrill of victory and agony of defeat” with the attitude and sportsmanship of a world-class athlete.

Toni was her children’s and grandchildren’s most ardent supporter in any endeavor they selected. She rarely, if ever, criticized and always affirmed the interests and goals her children set. A constant positive in their lives, she was truly present in the moments they needed her love and guidance the most. Momo, as she was known to her grandchildren, shared every important milestone with them and created beautiful memories with them through the years that they will treasure. Toni and Hampton’s home was a place of love and affection, even if there was a little dog hair on the furniture. Toni loved her dogs and cared for them as tenderly as she did her children. She and Hampton enjoyed their daily walks with Mack Brown and Katie and her pups will miss her.

A Rosary and Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM (Rosary) and 3:00 PM (Holy Mass) at St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 3729 Hueco Avenue, El Paso, TX 79903. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Toni Hurt Scholarship Fund at https://bit.ly/ahshurt .