Jan Alene (Scott) Hurley

Jan was born to John Alan Scott and Alene Clement Black Scott and grew up in Oklahoma City with her sister, Shirley. From a young age, she enjoyed - and excelled in - visual art and literature. As a young girl, she also distinguished herself as the fastest runner in her class. She graduated from Northwest Classen in 1956.

After graduation, she worked in international wire transfers for First National Bank, where she met Jim Hurley. He, also working for the bank, courted her by strolling by her desk in the mornings, singing and dancing to “I’m Getting Married in the Morning.” They married in 1961 and celebrated 63 years of marriage this year before Jim’s passing in June.

Family meant the world to Jan, both the family she was born into and the one she built. Jan spent much of her young adult life raising her son, James Bradley Hurley. She created magnificent holiday traditions and curated magical moments. She loved spending time with her parents, cousins, and grandparents; long after he passed, she told fond stories of her Grandpa Black. Jan especially treasured time with her sister, Shirley, and her nephews, David and Craig. She served as a historian for her family, keeping records, journal entries, and photographs.

Jan was an artist in many forms. Throughout her life, she created artwork using mediums including collage, Oriental brushwork, charcoal, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and needlepoint. She could almost always be found doodling and her precision and skill with crayons put everyone else to shame. Her works of art, which span decades of creativity, can be found on display across Oklahoma and beyond. She loved creating art on her own, with her sister, and later with Jim, her SOSOT group, and her grandchildren.

Jan’s appreciation for beauty did not stop with art. She was an avid nature enthusiast and loved to explore. She particularly loved birdwatching and kept extensive records of birds she saw. She was a collector of things she found beautiful. She filled the family lakehouse on Eufaula with rocks (especially rocks shaped like Oklahoma), animal skulls, abandoned bird nests, and sticks that looked like people. She even got caught trying to smuggle an interesting rock out of a national park on a family trip.

Jan was an active member in her community for many years. She was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church and served for Meals on Wheels. She also served in the Junior League of Oklahoma City and loved to volunteer.

One of Jan’s most cherished roles was that of Granny to her grandchildren, Lexi and Zach Hurley. She watched them when they were out of school or sick, hosted weekly sleepovers, and traveled with them. She created a world of magic for them as children that included stories, fairies, adventures, art, make-believe tree houses, real-life playhouses, and endless amounts of love and support. She was never too old or too busy to play pretend. She made all those around her - not only Lexi and Zach - feel important, special, and loved.

Jan is preceded in death by her parents, John and Alene Scott; her sister, Shirley Scott Frank; and her husband, Jim Hurley. Her family finds solace in the knowledge that she is now reunited with them. She is survived by her son, Brad Hurley, and his partner, Cindy Batt; her grandchildren, Lexi and Zach; her former daughter-in-law, Kirsten; and a vast network of extended family and friends who will forever carry Jan’s love in their hearts.

Visitation will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper (6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK 73116) on Friday, September 6, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A memorial service will follow at the same location on Saturday, September 7, at 11:00 a.m., where friends and family will gather to celebrate Jan’s life and legacy.