In Memoriam: Marie Hurte

BY

Marie E. Hurte, long time resident of Canyon Lake, passed away peacefully under home hospice care in Ontario on January 21, 2015, surrounded by her family. She was 84 years old.

Marie was born in Sunnymead, California in 1930 and moved as a young girl to Long Beach, where she attended and played competitive tennis at Long Beach Polytechnic High School.  In 1948 she met her future husband, George Hurte, newly discharged from the U.S. Navy, at the Long Beach Christian Missionary Alliance Church. They were married in 1949, and immediately moved to Arkansas where they both received their Bachelor Degrees from John Brown University.

They moved back to Long Beach after graduation to work as teachers and administrators at the Southern California Military Academy, from which Marie retired after 35 years of service.

She and George then moved to Canyon Lake where she spent many of their retirement years traveling the world with friends while working as a travel agent with Canyon Lake Travel. During her career, Marie served as governor of the Camino Real region of Soroptimist International, spearheading projects such as the Lakewood Meals On Wheels.

She was active in her churches, singing in the First Baptist Church of Lakewood’s traveling Choristers group for many years. Marie loved the Lord, her family, her students, her work, and her service – she touched many lives.

Marie is survived by her three sons, Ron, Brad and Geoff, and their spouses Cindi, Pamela and Rebecca; sister, Alta; sister-in-law, Jane; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and her niece and nephew. Pam and George provided loving care to her during her declining years.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 555 N. Gartel Dr. in Walnut, California. Marie will be interred with her husband George at the Riverside National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the John Brown University Scholarship Fund, John Brown University, Attn: Susan Nece, 2000 West University, Siloam Springs, AR 72761; or to Soroptimist International of the Americas, 1709 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6103, phone 215-893-9000. Gifts are tax-deductible.