Margie was born in Victoria, Texas, on August 8, 1936, to the late Cecil and Florence Gathright. She attended Patti Welder High School where she met her beloved Benny, the absolute love of her life. She graduated from Patti Welder in 1954. Benny and Margie married in 1955, and for 64 years remained lovingly devoted to one another.
Their son Michael was born in 1958, and from that moment on, Margie’s days were full. As Mike grew, so did his love of baseball, and if Mike loved it, then so did she. For many years, Margie and Benny traveled all over the state and the country, proudly watching their boy play ball, from little league fields to baseball stadiums.
In 1982, Mike married Diane, the daughter-in-law Margie loved to say she chose for him. The Hurdle family grew again in 1983 and 1985 when their granddaughters Allison and Brittany were born, and they became not just grandparents, but “Memi and Boppie”. Memi and Boppie cherished their roles as grandparents and spent innumerable hours watching them grow and play, teaching them valuable life lessons along the way. Even years later when their five great-grandchildren came along, it was still evident how much Margie and Benny treasured the family they had built together.
Margie and Benny were charter members of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church since its founding in 1966. Together they were exceptionally active, served on countless committees, and faithfully supported their community inside and outside of the church for decades.
Margie had a heart for serving others and showed her affection, care, and love through thoughtfully handwritten notes, handmade crafts, phone calls and visits, and (everybody’s favorite) baked goodies from her warm, welcoming kitchen. If you knew Margie, even for the smallest amount of time, you probably also knew her famous chocolate chip cookies. And for her family, her browned, buttered noodles have become a deeply rooted family tradition.
Whether you knew her as Margie, Jan, Mrs. Hurdle, or Memi, you knew her spunk, her strength, her devotion to God, her love and dedication to her family, and her commitment to serving those around her. Although she will be mourned and missed by those who knew her and especially loved her, those closest to Margie have some comfort in knowing the beautiful, heavenly reunion she finally had with her Benny.
Margie is survived by her son Michael Hurdle and daughter-in-law Diane Hurdle; granddaughter Allison Brendel, her husband Brian Brendel, and great-grandchildren Trey, Elizabeth and Charlotte; granddaughter Brittany Ewing, her husband Ryan Ewing, and great-grandsons Leo and Milo; niece Melissa Lyman, her husband Robert Lyman, and great-nieces Kelsey Lippitz and Sarah Lyman; nephew Greg Gathright; and lifelong friends Ronnie and Bette Painter.
A Memorial Service will be 10:30 am on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Christ the Victor Lutheran Church in Victoria, Texas with a Visitation and meal following the service. The Rev. Mickey Ewing will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (www.alzfdn.org) or Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org).
Words of comfort may be shared at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
