John Hurley

John "Jack" Hurley, Sr., 88, of Waco, passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. Private family graveside services will be held Friday with Rev. Jim Gray officiating. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd.

Jack was born in New York City on September 21, 1920 not long after his parents came to America from Ireland. He had two brothers and five sisters. His strongest memory from childhood was when his Mother took him to a voting booth as she voted for Al Smith for President in 1928. As a teenager, Jack worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps near Lake Tahoe, NV.

During World War II, Jack shipped with the Merchant Marine taking war supplies across the Atlantic to England, France and Holland.

As a baseball and fast pitch softball player, Jack tried out for the New York Giants. For several years he played third base for one of the best fast pitch softball teams in the New York Metropolitan area.

Jack was a lifelong Union member and earned his living in the restaurant business in New York City. He moved to Waco in 2007 to be near his son. He enjoyed the friendliness of Texans and appreciated their kindness.

Jack is survived by his son, John M. "Jack" Hurley and wife, Susan Adams Hurley of Waco; granddaughters, Susan Elizabeth Hurley of San Francisco and Evelyn Ruth Hurley of Austin.