Cecil H. Hurt

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edna and Thurlough Hurt; infant sister, Mary Jane; brothers, Denzel, Cleatus, William and Wayne; and half-sister, Irma Paradise.

Cecil is survived by his wife, Betty J. Hurt; daughters, Dianna Carlyle of Jenks, OK and Jo Eckert (Chuck) of Williamsburg, MO; son, Brad Hurt of Menonomee Falls, WI; spiritual family member, Donna Sweet of St. Louis, MO; grandson, Will Eckert (Jackie) and David Carlyle II; great-grandson, Charles Patrick James Eckert; sisters, Urma Lee Chumley, Eva Lena Thompson and Priscilla Dean Baggett; brothers, Jack G. Hurt (Sonja) and David “Corky” Hurt (Susan); and many nieces and nephews.

He served in the US Army as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and was a military policeman at Fort Bragg. He was very proud to be the Lightweight Boxing Champion while in the army. Cecil pastored his first church in 1949, South Friendship General Baptist, East of Boonville. In 1951 the Rev. and his wife moved to the state of Missouri to the Methodist Church, now called United Methodist. He pastored many churches in Southeast Missouri, Northern Missouri and in and around St. Louis, MO. He retired June 9, 1995, and in November of 2009 the Rev. and his wife moved back home again to Indiana.

Cecil was a scout Master for about 15 years while in Missouri and was a Kentucky Colonel. He was a member of Whitewater Masonic Lodge #417 in Whitewater, MO, Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, and Master of Senath Lodge in Senath, MO, Moolah Shrine in St. Louis and an Honorary Lifetime member of the Hadi Shrine. He was Grand Chaplain of Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri for 17 years. He was also a member of Eastern Star Chapter #342 in Morley, MO, an Honorary Legion of Order of DeMolay, and was awarded the 33rd Degree Mason.

Services will be 11:00 AM Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by Rev. Mark Harvey of St. Louis, with burial in Bates Hill Cemetery in Yankeetown. Friends may visit Wednesday from 2:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Home of Missouri, 6033 Masonic Drive #A, Columbia, MO 65202.