Mary Louise Hurst

Born June 6, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio, to Eugene and Marian (Crehore) Beesley, Mary Lou was welcomed by two sets of adoring grandparents as the first grandchild on both sides. (Families located in Thorntown, IN, and Elyria, OH). When she was two, Gene and Marian moved to Indianapolis, IN, six years later she welcomed a younger brother, Mark.

Mary attended School 84 and then graduated from Broadripple High School. During her freshman year she met the love of her life and future husband, Needham S. Hurst (deceased). Upon graduation from “Ripple,” Mary graduated from Indiana University, joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and eventually, she and Needham married on December 21, 1954.

Starting in the earliest years of marriage, Mary, the consummate hostess, would invite friends and family over for all kinds of celebrations both small and big. Throughout their life together, Mary and Needham, opened their homes, welcomed all in, and relished in the joy and laughter of many guests.

She and Needham enjoyed driving everywhere together, including children Cathy and Rick, as well as miles and miles and miles of “Trip Tiks.” Later, she was an accomplished navigator, and Needham, the driver, received her directions that led them from Indianapolis to Banff, Moosehead, and Calgary, Canada. Their driving adventures also included the Rocky Mountain Range between Wickenburg, AZ to the Montana Canadian border and the Pacific NW and HWY 1 along the California coast.

Between summer road trips, Mary skillfully and meticulously organized and directed tennis tournaments for the NJTL in Indianapolis, which Rick and Cathy played all their childhood. She was famous (along with her late friend Sally Lugar) in junior Midwest tennis circles for her chairmanships of the Midwest Qualifications for the Nationals as well as local and statewide tournaments at North Central High School.

Mary developed her love for adventure and travel, beginning with her grandfather Charles Crehore when he drove her, as a six-year-old, across the country to Rocky Mountain National Park. Camping both along the way and within the park, setting her on the path as a future national park explorer and talking of always wanting to be a park ranger!

“Let’s Go Explore” and “Go Big or Go Home” were Mary’s mottos. A curious nature and exceptional planner and organizer propelled her to lead her family and later friends into adventures both at home and abroad.

With her final trip just five weeks before her passing, Mary traveled from Indianapolis to northern California for her last grandchild’s wedding, where she was the ring bearer. Mary thoroughly enjoyed the family and friends gathering and topped it off as the most “mature” guest at 90 years and her great grandson Amar Hurst at eight months, as the youngest.

Mary believed in giving more than receiving and spent many years as a volunteer and lifelong supporter of Second Presbyterian Church, where she was a deacon and an elder, The Children’s Museum Guild, Junior League of Indianapolis, St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild, Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, The Progressive Club and Holliday Park. As her family expanded with new generations, she continued with a generous spirit in education supporting, The Orchard School, Brebeuf Jesuit High School, Park Tudor School, and University High School of Indiana.

Needham and Mary’s true “second home” was Lake Wawasee, Syracuse IN where countless hours in her lake cottage kitchen and on a boat either feeding family or spotting for 3rd and 4th generation family members made her summers “just perfect”. She and Needham remained committed patrons of the Wawasee Conservancy.

Our family would like to express our appreciation and gratefulness to Dr. Kevin McCallum, Paradigm Health & Hospice and Nurse Amanda Polston, and Marquette Senior Living staff. Along with personal caregivers, Teresa, Karen, Angela, Alexis and Becky, our humble and deepest gratitude.

Mary Lou is survived by her brother, Mark Beesley, daughter, Cathy (Philip Meyer) and son, Rick (Lisa Norris). Six grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to either of the following: Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation (WACF), P.O. Box 548, Syracuse, IN 46567 or Second Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, 7700 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis IN 46260

Per Mary’s wishes, family will gather for a private service and a 2025 springtime celebration.

Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel assisting with funeral arrangements.