Jeffrey Mark Hurst
Jeff was raised at Valley Falls where he and his brother assisted their parents with the family farm operations. He was baptized in the Valley Falls United Methodist Church; received recognition for 13 years perfect attendance at Sunday School. He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1965. He attended Kansas State College of Pittsburg and Emporia State Teachers College before graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science on March 22, 1968.
Jeff was married to the love of his life, Loretta Renee Smith of Oskaloosa on Super Bowl Sunday, January 11,1970, at the Valley Falls United Methodist Church. They were happily married for over 55 years, were true life partners and did everything together.
He began working at the Hagge Funeral Home in Valley Falls during his high school years. After he completed mortuary school, he served his apprenticeship in Oskaloosa before working at funeral homes in Manhattan and Ottawa. On September 8, 1981, he and Loretta joined Gene and Arvilla Parker at their North Topeka mortuary and was manager there until his retirement on March 25, 2018. He was recognized at the Kansas Funeral Directors Association for being licensed for 50 years. During his years as a member of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association he served as a district president; and was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association.
His masonic career started as being raised a Master Mason on February 19, 1969, in Valley Falls Lodge # 21, AF & AM where he served as Master for two years and at that time was the youngest man to ever serve as Master of a Kansas Masonic Lodge. He served as Master of Golden Rule Lodge # 90 AF & AM in 2010. He joined both the Topeka York Rite Bodies and Topeka Scottish Rite Bodies in 1970. On November 19, 2011, the Topeka Scottish Rite Bodies coronated him with the Thirty-third Degree Inspectors General Honorary. Jeff was appointed to the Arab Shriners Divan in 2011 and served as their Potentate in 2017 He also served as a Director and Executive Vice-President of the Kansas Masonic Foundation.
Jeff had been a member of Manhattan's Sunflower Lions Club (Past President), Solar Kiwanis Club of Manhattan; North Topeka Kiwanis Club (Past President); and Sunrise Optimist Club of North Topeka.
Surviving is his wife, Loretta, of the home; children: Quentin Ashley and M. Ilene Hurst of Overland Park and Jay Robert Hurst and Valerie VanDerSluis of Topeka; and six grandchildren: Garrhett Paul and Anna Hurst, Cecily Faith Hurst, Jonathan David "Jack" Hurst, Corey Matthew Hurst all of Overland Park, Benjamin Richard VanDerSluis, Madilyn Michelle VanDerSluis of Topeka.
Visitation will be held Sunday, May 18th, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 19th at First United Methodist Church, Topeka, followed by Rose Croix Services conducted by Topeka Scottish Rite Bodies. Interment will be in Valley Falls Cemetery, 1001 19th Street, Valley Falls, KS at 2:30 p.m., with Masonic Graveside services conducted by Golden Rule Lodge # 90, AF & AM.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 4400 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63110 or RiteCare ℅ Topeka Scottish Rite Bodies, 4228 SW 29th Terrace, Suite A, Topeka, KS 66614.
Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave. is assisting the family with service arrangements. To leave the family a special message online, please visit www.DoveTopeka.com.