Joan Ruth Hurst's Obituary
Joan Ruth Hurst, 78, passed away August 4, 2014. She was born July 9, 1936 in Camden, New Jersey to the late Leon Parker Steward and Emma Ruth (McAllister) Steward. In addition to her parents, Joan is preceded in death by her baby brother, John Leon Steward and his son, Nathan Steward.
In 1950, Joan moved to St. Petersburg, Florida with her family when she was 14 years old. They then moved to Englewood, Sarasota and on to Manatee County in 1978. After retirement, they moved to Columbiana, Alabama where they were members of the Columbiana Church of the Nazarene. Joan was actively involved in 4H and the FFA. She knitted prayer shawls for the church and was involved in small groups in the church. She played piano and loved to collect lighthouses. Joan had retired as a cashier initially from Eckard Drugs and then again from Wal-Mart.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 54 years, Herman Leo Hurst; sons, Herman Leo Hurst III (Chip) and his wife Pamela Dickert-Hurst and Verlin Joe Hurst all of Bradenton, Florida; sisters, Janet Elaine Blanton of North Carolina, Grace Elizabeth Ellis of Knoxville, Tennessee; brother, Joseph Benjamin Steward and his wife Brandy of North Carolina; sister-in-law, Kay Malcolm Steward; several nieces and nephews; and very special grand dogs, Calea and Balea.
There will be a visitation on Friday, August 15th, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Skyway Memorial Funeral Home, 5200 US Highway 19 N. Palmetto, Florida. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be Saturday, August 16th at 11:00 AM at the FountainGate Church, 3301 14th Street W. Bradenton, Florida 34205. Pastor Rick Johnson will officiate. Interment will follow at 2:00 PM in Skyway Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joan’s honor to the All Children’s Hospital, 501 6th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 or to the Columbiana Church of the Nazarene, 20200 Alabama Highway 25, Columbiana, Alabama 35051. Condolences and memories may be left online at www.skywaymemorial.com.
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