Mrs. Anne Andy Katherine Mathes Hurley

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Mrs. Anne Katherine Mathes Hurley, it summarized in every way who she was. She was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around her and always thinking before acting. She was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything she did. She was a friendly person who truly cared about those around her.

Anne was born on March 5, 1933 at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon, Michigan. She was the daughter of Frank and Josephine Mathes. She also had a step-father, Stan Bathrick. Raised in Muskegon, Michigan, she was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, she learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that she would carry with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Anne was always aware of how others around her felt and this quality served her well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Anne was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Anne was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where she could concentrate, Anne also had the ability to relate well with her family and friends. Anne was one of five children. She had a younger brother Jimmy who died at birth, three younger sisters, Barbara, Betty Jane and Sharon. Betty Jane died shortly after birth. Anne was constantly involved in activities with her family. Anne and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Anne was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. She was content to entertain herself. Anne was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, she was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything she did as a child, Anne was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around her. Anne took part in a number of activities as a child. In her spare time she liked roller skating and reading. Every Friday and Saturday night Anne and her sister Barb would go to the Curve Crest Roller Rink in Muskegon.

Anne enjoyed learning. She always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Anne was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. She often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Anne was painstaking and accurate in her efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. She graduated from Muskegon High School in 1951. Anne enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was English.

Most folks would say that Anne was shy until they got to know her. Those who were privileged to know her well learned that she was a solid, good friend. Anne was reluctant to generalize about people, and she based her friendships on her personal experiences. Because of this, Anne best trusted those people that she truly knew. She was concerned about how those around her felt, and she always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. She could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that she made, Anne kept. While growing up, some of her best friends were her two younger sisters, Barbara and Sharon. Later in life, she became friends with Joe and Violet Balanger, Bob and Ruby Nichols, Shirley and Arnold Strang, and Shirley and Ed Alvord. She met Violet at Shaw Box Crane where they both worked in the Production Control Office. Every Thursday they would go to the famous Doo Drop Inn in Muskegon and have dinner which consisted of the fresh lake perch, for which Doo Drop Inn was famous, and a cold beer. The Doo Drop Inn still exists today.

In 1951, on a Thanksgiving weekend, Violet was going to Camp Atterbury which is an Army Base and Hospital located in Edinburgh, Indiana to meet her then boyfriend Joe Belanger. Joe had a friend, Robert J. Hurley, who was serving in the Korean War. He was shot while in Korea and was hit in the leg by a 50 caliber machine gun so he was also in the hospital with Joe. Violet asked Anne to come with her to meet Joe's friend. It was love at first sight. Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Anne. They engaged at Christmas and on March 22, 1952 Anne married Robert J. Hurley at Samuel Lutheran Church of Muskegon, MI. She was totally committed to Bob and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Anne naturally sensed her spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Anne disliked conflict, she did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times. After getting married Anne and Bob moved immediately to Iowa to work on the Hurley Family Farm where Bob's parents lived. His Dad was James Valentine Hurley and mother Orlee Clarinda Hurley. They lived in Iowa for approximately six months before moving back to Muskegon and then to Muskegon Heights in 1952 to a home located on 7th street. They lived in the Heights where two of their three boys were born until 1961 and then moved to Roosevelt Park in Muskegon where their third son was born. Anne and Bob moved to Greensboro, NC in 1981 and 1982, Bob moved to NC first to work at Southern Spring & Stamping and Anne stayed behind to sell the house in Muskegon and then followed in 1982. She and Bob were married for 56 before he passed away February 4, 2008.

Anne was a good mother to her children. She had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because she trusted emotions, Anne was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way she seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around her, always thinking before acting. In addition, Anne was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around her might be, she seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Anne was blessed with three children, three sons, Clifford, Paul and Matthew. Matthew died in 1997. They were also blessed with six grandchildren and two great grandchildren., Keith, Nicole, Kevin, Christopher, Jessica, Zachary, Kaitlyn and Tanin.

If you gave Anne a deadline, she would meet it. At work, Anne was always on task. Without hesitation, Anne could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. Her primary occupation was being a homemaker. She was employed for two years by Shaw Box Crane and ten years with Haviland Chemical Company. During that time, Anne excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. She was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Anne was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Anne had at true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. She was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Anne liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Anne's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Anne preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on her hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were cross-stitching, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, handmade dolls, reading and going to the beach where she and Bob loved to collect shells and the grandchildren loved to swim. Anne was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying her hobbies all by herself. She made several blankets which will be treasured and passed down to family members.

Due to her excellent organizational skills, Anne was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which she belonged. Anne could bring established, successful methods to the discussion table, along with a generous helping of common sense. Anne was good at making and keeping schedules and never got bogged down in unnecessary details. Throughout her children's school years, Anne was an active member of the PTL (parent teacher league) and volunteered at Trinity Lutheran Church and School.

An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, her faith was important to Anne. Her compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in her personal beliefs. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for 18 years, Cross of Christ Lutheran Church for 17 years and Ebenezer Lutheran Church for 10 years. During that time, she was involved in fund raisers and various church committees.

Doing things to help others seemed to come naturally to Anne. She never set out to gain individual recognition, but the praise and accolades given her for her many and varied efforts throughout her life were well deserved. Her most prestigious award was best Grandma in the world!

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Anne had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that she was the trip planner. She would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included Myrtle Beach, Washington, DC, Florida and Las Vegas, NV.

Anne had Pepper, a mixed breed dog who was a great companion for 14 years. Anne Katherine was as loyal to her pets as they were to her. She had taken the time to learn about her various options and chose her course wisely. In retirement, she found new pleasure in going to the beach with family and friends, attending church and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Even in retirement, Anne continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances.

Anne passed away on March 1, 2010 at home in Greensboro, NC. She fought a long and brave battle against renal cancer. She is survived by her two sons, Clifford and wife Marie, Paul and wife Sally, and daughter-in-law Kelly. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Keith, Nicole, Kevin, Christopher and great-grandchildren, Kaitlin and Tanin and her two sisters, Barbara and Sharon. Services were held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Greensboro, NC. Anne was laid to rest in Guilford Memorial Park.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Anne was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Anne was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of woman to whom everyone was drawn. She was thorough and practical. Anne Katherine Hurley was very literal with her words. You always knew where you stood with Anne. She will be missed.

Obituary in the Greensboro News and Record:

GREENSBORO-Mrs. Anne Katherine Mathes Hurley, 76, passed away at her home on March 1, 2010.

Funeral services will be held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church on Friday, March 5, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Daniel Koenig officiating. Interment will follow in Guilford Memorial Park.

Mrs. Hurley was born in Muskegon, Michigan to Frank and Josephine Archambeau Mathes. She and her husband moved to Greensboro in the early 1980's. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for approximately twenty years in Muskegon, a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Greensboro for over 10 years and was a loving homemaker to her family. She enjoyed cross stitching and traveling, frequent vacations to the beach and driving after she received her license at the age of 38.

Mrs. Hurley is survived by her sons, Clifford and wife Marie of Parma, MI and Paul and wife Sally of Concord; daughter-in-law Kelly of Summerfield; grandchildren, Keith Hurley and wife Erin, Kevin Hurley, Nicole Nelson and husband Robert, Christopher, Jessica and Zachary Hurley; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Tanin Hurley; sisters, Barbara Jean Berger and husband Harold of Deland, Fla. and Sharon Horvath and husband Reggie of Grand Haven, Mich. She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years Robert J. Hurley in 2008 and her son Matthew Lee Hurley in 1997.

The family will receive friends Thursday, March 4, from 7 until 9 p.m. at Hanes-Lineberry Sedgfield Chapel.

Floral tributes are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Ebenezer Lutheran Church , 1900 Walker Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27403.

Online condolences may be made to www.haneslineberryfhsedgefield.com.