Funeral of Rex LeRoy Hurst March 15, 2004

Bishop Mark Porter: Brothers and Sisters, please be seated.

We’re very pleased to welcome you all here today on this very special occasion as we gather together in remembrance of a dear man, Brother Rex LeRoy Hurst.

Brother Hurst was born March 10, 1923 in Payson, Utah.
And he died March 11, 2004 in Logan, Utah.

My name is Bishop Mark Porter. I am the bishop of the Northwood Ward where brother and sister Hurst have resided for many years.

President Dean Quail and his first counselor, Paul Riley. President Riley is also a member of the Northwood year and has been friends of the Hursts for many, many years.

Our prelude music has been offered by both Benjamin Blau and Marilyn Choate.

I will announcement the program.

We will begin our service today with a vocal duet, Brother Elliot Budge and Merlyn Leonhart, both neighbors of Brother Rex, and good friendly companions.

They will sing “Jesus Lover of my Soul” and “Abide with me”

Prayer: Steven Hart
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before Thee this day to celebrate and honor the life of Rex. We’re so thankful for his service that he has given his wife, to his children, to his church, and to his country, and to the college. We are thankful, Father, for his great example which we all try to emulate as a husband, as a parent, as a father, as a patriarch, and as a professor, and as a patriot.

We pray that Thy spirit will be here today, that we who much endure to the end that we can follow his example. That we can live worthy through our deeds that someday we can
say to Rex that we have continued on, that we have done what he wanted us to do, that we have carried on the legacy, that he can be proud of us like we were proud of him. We pray that thou will bless Lee with health and with comfort this day.

We are thankful for Thy son Jesus Christ that through the hope and knowledge of Him that we know that we will be resurrected, that we can once again be together as families, that we can enjoy companionship through the eternities.

We are thankful for Plan of happiness this day that one spirit has gone and one spirit has come. And we are thankful for the knowledge that we have of this. We are thankful for all those who have traveled this day. We pray for thy spirit to be with us. And we say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Obituary, Lori Hurst

Rex LeRoy Hurst

Rex LeRoy Hurst, 81, died March 11, 2004 at Sunshine Terrace surrounded by loved ones.

Rex LeRoy Hurst was born on March 10, 1923 at the family home in Payson, Utah. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 19 and was a pilot in World War II until 1945. After basic training in Texas and twin-engine training at Brooks Field, he served as a flight trainer at Randolph Field before being sent to Europe. He had several narrow escapes, one time landing in Scotland without even enough gas to taxi. He was involved in transporting equipment and people. After the Battle of the Bulge, he served as part of the utility squadron for the 8th Air Force, involved in transporting the wounded to hospitals and taking supplies to various destinations.

Rex married the love of his life, Lee Lasson Hurst, on August 26, 1946 in the Salt Lake City temple. Rex completed his BS and MS at Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University) in soil physics and his PhD from Cornell in 1952 in crop ecology, taking only two years to complete his PhD. His dissertation involved daily measurements of crops for two years (which explains his garden hobby). He joined the Applied Statistics department at Utah State University. He quickly became familiar with the emerging computer equipment as both a tool to support his research and as a service to the registrars office (who shared the equipment). He served as a faculty member and department head in the combined Statistics Computer Science department. Rex loved the out of doors and was often seen riding his bicycle to and from work. He enjoyed cross-country and downhill skiing. He enjoyed handball, running, boating, water-skiing, hiking, and camping. Rex has had many friends, enjoying cards, square dancing, bowling, and outdoor activities. The highlight of the summer for Rex was going camping and boating with his family. He loved having his family around him.

Rex was a life-long learner, having taking numerous classes in auto-repair, mathematics, woodworking, history, and science. He was a strong proponent of education. While it may be that he felt education was a way to avoid the despair of the depression, it more likely that he just loved the exhilaration that came from learning something new. Rex has been a walking-encyclopedia for his children and grandchildren. His example has encouraged his posterity to pursue a college education. He truly loved to learn and was an avid reader. Name anything and Rex could be found repairing, studying it, watering it, eating it, or talking to it about genealogy. At family gatherings, Dad would make his way around the room talking to each member about genealogy. The grandkids referred to it as “being genealogized”. He had an incredible memory; sixty years after entering the service he could relate every stop in route to Europe.

For Rex, work was fun! He was always been a bundle of energy, made possible by his invention of the middle-of-the-room power nap – so named because his idea of a good rest was a ten minute snooze, flat on the floor - a book for a pillow, in the middle of a room full of people.

Since his retirement in 1990, he enjoyed the LDS family history center, acting as associate director for ten years. He cherished the many friends he made doing family history. He loved institute classes and graduated from institute after retirement.

Rex was in his glory in the garden, delighting his friends and family with cucumbers, zucchini, onions, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, peppers, and beans.

Rex is survived by his wife, O’Leah “Lee” Hurst, five children Craig (Jill) Hurst of Ogden, Vicki (Stephen) Allan of Providence, Cherri (Steven) Hart of Rexburg, Gary (Lori) Hurst of Houston, and Steven (Connie) Hurst of Dallas, Texas; twenty grandchildren, one great grand-daughter; sister Beth (Roger) Slade of Bountiful, brothers Dale (Eleana) Hurst, Paul (Dorothy) Hurst, and Bryon (Nelda) Hurst.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Paul O. and Zora Hurst, sister, June Pauline Hurst, and one granddaughter, Rachael Hurst.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 15, 2004 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, and on Monday 9:30-10:30 a.m. Internment will be at the Logan City Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenhallmortuary.com.

Talk by Craig Hurst: The fruits of his life

Craig: This better be short or this is going to be a long meeting, if you see how long this program is. The savior very early in his ministry, in fact it is in Matthew.

Shortly after the 40 days and 40 nights in the dessert and the temptations, his first serious discussion was the Sermon on the Mount.

In Chapter 7:20, He warned about false prophets and he said, “Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.” My theme in remembering my Dad is the fruits of his labor, the fruits of his life.

I’d just like to highlight some things.

The first fruit, of course, would be his favorite son, which was me.

He tolerated the other four. He would always say, “You know Craig, you’re my favorite.

And we used to joke that the rest of them were all adopted. But he truly loved his children. And he sacrificed - a lot more than you know. Those of you who know Rex know that at least in his younger years it was hard for Dad to ever say, “I love you” or to hug. That came with age.

You can to learn that he loved you through small acts, because you didn’t hear it.

My favorite childhood memories, occurred somewhere around age four, in a small house on Canyon road. It was Christmas and we didn’t have much money.

He had a table saw mounted on a tree trunk to save the two by fours or whatever it would take to frame it right. And I still remember that table saw with the tree trunk.

That December I was banned from the basement because he was working on my Christmas Present, and it was a set of blocks.

And I would hear him down there sawing away, wondering if I was brave enough to sneak down to the basement to see what Santa was bringing.

I wish I had those blocks. But there are small acts like that that convinced you that Dad cared.

And you look at those fruits of his loins – those five children.

He has Five, they’re over educated, type A personalities. But all married in the temple.

They and their children are on the path. They have testimonies of the gospel.



The 2nd fruit is easier to talk about – his professional career. I’ll bet two thirds of the people in the line last night and this morning knew Dad through work and were touched by his caring.

I have two sisters who both are overly influenced by Dad and never even left the fame field he picked.

I remember, dad, when Utah State had the first computer and he was so proud of that thing. And it wasn’t a little thing that you could see on your desk.

I mean this took up a whole room, and it had fans to keep it cool. And it was a chore to walk around this thing. And it had start up time and down time and it was a room. He was so proud of it. But Dad touched lives. He was a gifted teacher.

The third fruit I’ll refer to as his church fruit – his church callings.

I never knew a calling that he took that he didn’t magnify.

In my life, I’ve had a love for scouting – and probably in part because Dad was my best scout master.

I still remember his dragging the troop up to Utah State. Somebody would take time to teach us. Simple engine repair and how pistons work. And I remember him dragging us to Pinedale Wyoming on a scout trip.

And two of the scouts came with a footlocker, Dry ice and enough TV dinners for week, and Dad just let them make their mistakes and by about the second day they were begging food off anybody else in the troop because their TV dinners they couldn’t cook, although they were still frozen

As stake dance directors, Mom and Dad Drug me to more square dances and dress up things than I ever wanted to go to.

Be he always had a passion for whatever he was involved with. Genealogy was his last, almost to the point where nobody else in the family could even look at it.

The fourth area is self-improvement. I don’t think I’ve known anybody who had as much drive to learn and to grow.

At 80 he was still riding a bike.

I think he was 74-75 before he gave up cross country skiing. But he always took care of himself physically.

Whatever he was involved with was a passion. One of his other passions, as Elliot and other neighbors knows, is the garden. And in ways dad was a master gardener. I think on the other side he is going to meet with the master gardener. And in fact when Dad would come to your house, he would visit the garden before he would come in the house. He would visit the garden. In our house, Jill is the gardener in our family. I would get it ready, and she would do the planting. But he would inspect the garden first. He would visit the garden and then come in and tell you what you were doing wrong

The last, but not least, is my favorite, Mark 10:8. And they twain shall be one flesh... So they are no more twain, but one flesh.

That was his best legacy – was the best marriage I ever saw. Although, to be honest, I think mom did most of the work. It wasn’t 50-50 relationship. I think it was more like 70-30. And I think that is how most marriages work, to be honest.

I think that women have to keep things together and be the cement that holds it together – cause. men are too busy with everything they are doing

As the savior died on t he cross, between two thieves, he turned to the thief next to him and said, “Today thou shall be with me in paradise”

I have a testimonoy that this gospel is true. I have a testimony that there is life after death. And that Rex is in paradise. waiting to meet with the master gardener, for a life well lived. And I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


Talk by Cherri Hart and Vicki Allan Dad’s Hands

Vicki: If we cry, it is her fault. I told her that it was a very bad idea to speak together. When it came try to write the obituary, Mom said, “Vicki, you can just rewrite the 80th birthday article and make it the obituary. That was the hardest conjugation I ever made, putting that in past tense.

During his final months as the dementia became more and more a part of his life, Dad would hold his hands in front of his face and study them with such curiosity, as if he were seeing them for the first time. I, too, looked at them and wondered what he was seeing, what he was remembering. Those hands touched many in his life.

Cherri: I remember his taking my hand on my first trip to get a library card of my own. He taught us that reading was a doorway to the world, and that a library card was the key to the door. When he had spare time you could always expect to see Dad with a book in hand.

Vicki: He was an avid reader who thought purchasing a book was a complete waste of money as he read several each week. He was curious about everything and could retain an amazing array of facts. He remembered everything - making encyclopedias unnecessary. Dad just knew.

Cherri: I remember Dad using his hands to administer discipline. One time Gary and I lit a fire behind the garage. Dad found us and I got the spanking – Gary’s fault. Another time Gary sprayed hairspray in my face when I had friends over and I chased him up the stairs. He reached to open a glass door, and missed the frame and hit the glass and went right through it. Again I got spanked. I was told that it was because I was older and knew better. But Gary started it. It seemed unfair at the time, but I learned that I was to be the example. I was the older one. I needed to set the example for my younger brother and not react that way to a younger brother’s taunts and need for attention.

Vicki: As I child, I remember those hands teaching me to ride a bicycle, sled, swim, snow ski and water ski, to fish, and plant a garden.

Cherri: If there was ever a choice of the work that we had to do I used to volunteer to work in the garden with Dad so I could get out of housework.I would do anything to get out of housework. (Vicki, “Still Does”) I do. I used to think, Well Vicki is inside helping mom, but then I found out she wasn’t. She was always in her bedroom doing homework. (Vicki: That’s what you get for spending so much time outside.) I know. I liked being out there, and would rather dig potatoes or pick corn. Gary and I had many a business with my Dad’s corn. We went neighbor to neighbor and sold corn up and down the street on the Island. But he would offer the perfect tomato or apple from his and delight in God’s handiwork with us.

Vicki: His hands were natural holding a pencil. He wore a pocket protector long after it was fashionable (Was it ever fashionable?) (Cherri, uh-uh). Wherever he was he would pull out a pencil and a discarded punch card –he’s still got some if any of you are looking for some of those old relics. He would take notes whenever a thought would strike him. He would use a sheet of wood as a makeshift desk, propped up using the arms of his easy chair, reading and studying well into the night.

Cherri: I remember watching Dad and Mom dance. There were many years that they danced together. They were so elegant as they glided around the room. I remember one year that I went to gold and green ball back when I was living in the ward. I was so proud to have him take my hand and dance with me. He was very good.

Vicki: Dad was a life long learner, taking formal classes, watching the history channel, always thinking, analyzing, creating. I remember having him help me with calculus. But it was always an extremely difficult thing. Though it had been twenty years since he studied calculus, he would read the chapter, and teach it to himself again, so he could teach me. I was hoping just to be told the answers, but he made me derive the calculus from the discovery of zero and then work our way forward. It took all night long. I had to be desperate before I would ask him for help. But, you know, that ability to think through it, to derive the answers, and reason the parts together has been invaluable influence in my life.

Cherri: I remember in high school. I was in 10th grade and came home crying. I was in a Zoology class and I couldn’t understand the book. I looked in the forward of the book and was indignant to find out that it was a college level book and I was just in 10th grade. My dad calmed to down and said, “Here, let’s read a couple of chapters together.” So we read the first couple of chapters, showed me how to look up words in the back. I got through that class and calmed right down, and it was because of my Dad’s help.

Vicki: Given a problem, Dad could solve it. In fact, His resourcefulness came into play with his dementia. I hate to admit this, but none of you got hit. Dad was driving a little bit longer than he probably should have.
He would drive to the gas station, but not know how to fill the tank up with gas. But he was so resourceful. He would pull out the manual and read the instructions for filling the tank. So when we discovered that, we decided it was time for full time bicycle riding. . He would drive it up to campus to get a haircut, (not that the haircuts were good up there, but they were cheap.) He would park his bike up there but not remember the combination. He had a solution for that too. He walked home and returned with a hacksaw. He went back up. The combination was never a problem after that.

Cherri: Dad believed his daughters could do anything his sons could do. He always encouraged us to take the next science and math class. I remember in Junior HIhg, I think it was required of us to take home-ec and Mom encouraged me to take the next Home-ec class. Dad was, “No, take science. Take math.” And I did, all the way through. I think I took every science and math class that I could take. (Vicki: He wouldn’t let me take any of that stuff. He said I’d get it in relief socieity. Cherri: He’d softened by my year.). We were always encouraged to be our best.

Vicki: A handshake was second nature as he reached out to his students and staff from a variety of cultures. Often our Thanksgiving table included those whom he treated as family.

Cherri: It was so neat to have my son living in Mom and Dad’s basement a few years ago when he was going to college at Utah State. One time, Brandon was kind of stressed because he had tests coming up and a decision he had to make about whether he should apply to med-school and where he should apply and those kinds of decisions. I encouraged him to ask his grandfather for a blessing. Both appreciated the experience. Dad’s religious beliefs were just a part of him, on a weekday as much as on a Sunday. He wasn’t different. He always said that he knew the church was true, because of how it taught you to live.

Vicki: His hands were more comfortable in work than in play. Many a day he would put in a full day at work and then spend five or more hours working at home. During his last months, when it was no longer safe to leave him alone, Mom and I would play tag team as I arrived at the home just in time for her to run to an appointment, and leave as she pulled into the driveway. One day as I was gathering my things to return to work, Dad asked “Where is your office?” And I said, “Dad, it is in Old Main, just next to your old office.” And he looked at me and said, “You are so lucky – to have something to do and somebody to do it for.” I thought it was profound. Even in the nursing home, he had plans for the other residents. And he was talking to them about genealogy and doing work – and they were not very cooperative.

Cherri: Fifty-eight years ago he held my mother’s hand for the first time. Later that August they joined hands across the altar of the temple and made covenants. On the last day of his life they held hands as Mom said goodbye. Vicki made the comment that their hands looked the same, she couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. That is how they parented. I am so grateful for that eternal marriage bond in my life. There was no question that they loved each other and they loved us.

Vicki: As we surrounded him bedside for nine hours of waiting “his last breath”. I was just sure that he was dying any second. Nine hours I sat – I didn’t leave – I thought, Okay, I’ve got to stay right here and watch everything. I’ve never seen anyone die before. I kept expecting him to raise his hands toward heaven, or call out “Mother” or tell me of the throngs of people who had come for him. That those for whom he had done genealogy that were there to greet him. There was nothing. And people would keep saying, “Vicki, you have just watched too many movies.” He was pretty comatose the last couple of days. They would say, “You are not going to get a message so stop looking.” But I kept looking. Yet, he died without any of the dramatics that I was expecting. However, I think I may have missed the message. Because the day before he died, he was not communicating with any of us. When Mother would hug him and say, “Have you got a kiss for me?” he would pucker up and give her a kiss. And he would even say, “I love you.” He wasn’t communicating with any of us. And I would watch them as she would reach to hold his hand - This individual who was not communicating at all, not looking at us, would grasp her hand with more strength than I thought possible. I think that was his final advice, “Hold fast to those you love.” We love you Dad.



Talk by Gary Hurst:
The purpose of my remarks is to pay tribute to my father and comfort my mother.

First, to pay tribute to my father.
There is an Essay in a book by Robert Fulgham entitled “Everything I Needed to know, I learned in kindergarten…”. In it he lists topics like:
Share Everything
Play Fair
Don't hit people
Put things back where you found them
Don't take things that aren't yours
Wash your hands before you eat
Flush
Warm cookies and milk are good for you
In a similar matter I would like to entitle my tribute, “Everything I needed to know in life, I learned from my father”,

Spend time outdoors with your family,

As you know dad loved to be outdoors. He bought a boat and camper in 1967 and we had many family outing and vacations centered about the boat and camper. One of my favorite destinations was Lake Powel. Before I Ieft on my mission in 1978, we must have taken 6 or 8 trips to lake Powel. These were great trips surrounded by friends and family. The days were spent swimming, exploring, water skiing and getting sun burned. The nights were spent around a camp fire or a picknic table playing cards or telling stories. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of these family vacations. I thank dad for taking the time and have the priorities to make these family trips happen.

In addition to boating, dad also like camping and backpacking. In my teen years, we took 3 or 4 trips backpacking trips into the wilderness areas of Wyoming and Utah. I developed a close bond with my father and a love for the outdoors during these trips.


You can multitask

Dad loved to read. Most evenings, you could find him somewhere in the house with a book in his hand. If family came to visit, he would join in talking or watching TV, but he would also be reading. My wife has a similar habit of multitasking and we have labeled this as a “Rex”.

If you don’t own it, you don’t need it

Dad had a great aversion to borrowing things. In my years a home, I only remember him borrowing things two or three times. I once asked him about this and he explained his upbringing. He said growing up, his father farmed, but never made much money. His job as the oldest son, was to borrow the needed tools and equipment to run the farm. He hated having to borrow from friends and family in order to get the farm work done. A trait that he has passed on to me.

Work

Dad took great pleasure in work and made sure all his children knew how to work. We all has house hold and yard chores. At an early age, I learned to hate gardening, as we had to help plant, weed, and water the garden. As I grew older, the hate become tolerance and then became love as I could see the fruits of my labor and realized the satisfaction that comes from a job well done. Thanks dad for teaching me how to work.


Self Reliance

Dad did not believe in paying someone to do something he could do for himself. Over the years I watched him shingle the roof on the house on Canyon Road, pour concrete at the house on 9th North. Finish the basement which included framing, insulation, dry wall, paint, carpet, wiring, and plumbing. He had woods tools as long as I can remember, but in the mid 70’s he took university courses in wood working and built furniture for mom. He also involved me in performing routine car maintenance. Through helping and watching, I developed a love for building things. This love greatly influenced by decision to become an engineer and fostered my passion for wookworking.

There is a story in the area of Self Reliance that the family has asked me to relate. It has come to be called the “Fan Story”. I have my own name for the event, that is the “Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians” story. All of you that know dad know he was Stubborn. And as you can image the trait of stubbornness has been picked up by his sons. Some twenty years ago in the Christmas of ‘81, some of the family was together on Christmas eve. Craig and Jill had driven up from Odgen and had given mom and dad a ceiling fan for the family room. We rashly decided that we needed to install the fan that night. Dad, Craig and I, working together started around 10 p.m. to install the Fan. However, each of us, being as stubborn as the next, had their own idea on how we should frame in the fan, where we should start, and who should do what. As the evening wore on, voices raised and tempers flaired a time or two. My wife, a new bride of but 5 days, watch with amazement, and wondered what type of family she had married into as she observed the interchange between the three of us. Around 12:30 a.m. I tired of the circus, went home and left Dad and Craig to finish the fan installation. They woke me from sleep with a phone call around 3 a.m. to tell me they were done. The fan is still running and has not fallen from the ceiling, but I think that is the last time we tried to build anything thing together as a group. And yes, I learned to be stubborn from my father.

Respect for Women

Dad set a great example in this area. He did not have any preconceived ideas about what was “women’s work” or “men’s work”. He was always willing to help with the dishes, cleaning and other household work. He was kind and showed great respect to mom. We rarely witnessed crossed words or arguments. Our home was a happy place. A place of peace. A place we wanted to be.


Now to comfort my mother ..

In the last General Conference, President Boyd K. Packer said:

The great plan of happiness enables family relationships to last beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants, available only in the temple, make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

I add my testimony to his. I have a sure knowledge that we lived with our Father in Heaven in the pre-existence. We came to earth to gain a body, to live by faith, to endure and to be tried and tested in all things. This life is but a brief moment in the span of our eternal existence. When our journey here is through, we go to a spirit world, to be surrounded by loved ones that have passed on, to await judgment and the resurrections. If we are found worthy, we can eternally live as a family in the presence of our Father in heaven. This message brings peace and solace, as we know that Dad lives on. He has finished the work he needed to do in this mortality and has taken the next step forward in this wonder plan.

Of this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Funeral talk for Dad by Steven Hurst, read by Brandon Hart

Hopefully I don’t look as old as Steven (Stevie), but he actually sent the talk so I’ll just read it.

Charles Dickens in “The Christmas Carol” has the character Bob Cratchet say, “Life is made up of comings and goings and that is the way of it.” I would like to be there to remember the going of my father, but he is with his wife right now. Actually I have some good tiding. His wife just had a little baby girl this morning. At one o’clock in the morning, seven pounds, eight ounces, 18 inches long. (Why do they measure babies? Eighteen inches, does it matter?) And she is a beautiful baby girl McKenzie, healthy, beautiful, great. And Steve continues, I love my father and would like to share a few thoughts.
Paul Riley once told me that my father was a generous man. I hadn’t thought about it but I’ve had many opportunities since that day to think about it and agree. My father was generous with his time, with his knowledge, and with his love.
He shared his time with me through special times in my life. I remember as a young boy he coached my soccer team. Later in grade school we both shared cross-country skiing and shared memorable moments skiing together.
He was generous with knowledge. Both my wife and I remember learning many things from Dad, from statistics to gardening; we came to learn and found a very patient teacher.
He was generous with his love. Dad showed love by more than words, he showed it in action. By all his work he showed us he loved us. Behind the great man that Dad was, there was a wonderful woman. Mom stood beside and assisted him in all his efforts. To both my parents I am eternally grateful. The tears will come and go but the memories of my father will grow fonder. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

That was the end of Steve’s talk. I guess since I have the pulpit, I’m going to take I over. Just some memories that I think grandkids can remember. He wore pocket protectors until they were a little bit unfashionable. I also loved his jumpsuits – the one piecers, those were the best. So I had the opportunity to live with grandma and grandpa for a couple of years while I was going to Utah State. I just remember Grandpa, when Grandma wasn’t around. Grandpa was sneaking ice cream and sneaking pies. Grandpa was a master. He had the biggest sweet tooth imaginable. Actually it was insatiable. I learned that from him.

There were times actually when I was living with them and I would walk upstairs and I thought I was in World Ward II. Grandpa would watch the world war II – the history channel. The volume was as loud as you possibly could get the TV. I thought something was going on in the street – but it was just the TV. That was grandpa.

I also remember just going to classes at Utah State and it was NOT an uncommon occurrence to actually have a class with my Grandpa. We would never plan it, but I would go to institute classes and he would just be there, taking classes. He would just be there, and he would give me tips on teachers and what to read. And I took a computer science class with Grandpa, and it was awesome to see his love for learning. He just really taught us how to learn. There is nothing about my education that I don’t attribute to loving parents and just grandpa. He has a passion for education.

While at Utah State and living with my grandparents, you learn that Aggie Blue is Aggie blue, it is not navy blue anymore, it is aggie blue. You also learn that corn isn’t corn anymore, it’s grandpa corn. You learn that tomatoes aren’t tomatoes anymore – grandpa tomatoes. He just had a great love for learning and he was a great grandpa. And I love him. And I share my words and Stevie’s words in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


Talk by Paul Riley:
Folks, before the service, Steve Allan came up to me and cautioned me about speaking too long. I see that I still have 25 or 30 minutes, so ..

* Lee, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today to remember and pay homage to a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and a great friend, Rex Hurst. To me he was more than a friend--he was a good friend, a beloved friend, a trusted friend, a mentor, and a confidant. I might say that I too wore pocket protectors and those one-piece jump suits. Rex tells me that I introduced them to him, but I think it was the other way around.

* Today I want to reflect a bit on some memories of happy times spent with this dear man. Many a time during the long days of summer we stretched out together on our back lawn under the shade of a big maple tree and had a good old “chin wag” as they say. Dorothy always said that we looked like those old guys from the Brit comedy “Last of the Summer Wine.” Those of you who have seen that will know what I’m talking about. We talked about our vegetable gardens, about the importance of getting the right carbon/nitrogen ratio in the soil, his new cultivator recommended by Craig (but apparently not as good in some ways as the old one!), the tomatoes, the corn, and the beans. We talked about books that he had read. And we talked about our families and how well they were doing, about our wives and about Lee’s health, and about Rex’s concern for her, about computers and computer programs, and about family history. “Get going on your family history, Paul,” he would say with a chuckle, “You never know how much time you have left.” Oh, how I’ll miss Rex’s friendly greetings over the back fence, his early deliveries of welcome vegetables to our back door, our discussions about airplanes and his WWII experiences.
* Just about a month ago I spent about two hours visiting with my dear friend. He had a new book about airplanes on the coffee table--a book which Craig had recently given him--and we talked about the history of aviation. I’ll miss our cross-country ski outings together in Logan canyon around Beaver. Here we had opportunities to be together in God’s great outdoors and reflect on the meaning of life, and to talk about the snow pack and next summer’s water supply prospects. It was always comforting to know that Rex was there to sympathize when I needed sympathy, to discuss how a problem should be tackled, and to give friendly advice.
* We had many other contacts. When I served as a bishop Rex was the financial clerk and never failed to give me advice as to how to use fast offering funds. At USU, he headed the Statistics and Computer Science department for many years as you’ve heard. I took classes from him, and he served on my PhD committee. Like Gary, I’m a civil engineer.
* Rex was never a time waster--he read a lot but didn’t watch much TV. He took many Institute classes and was a substitute teacher there at the institute. Occasionally we would go to movies with the Hursts, and often the University plays. But only very occasionally did he agree to play table games.
* As a statistician, Rex knew that by design this is a world of risks and pitfalls, a place of problems, and that we are placed here by our own agreement to face these challenges and to be tested thereby. He knew that we are expected to meet these challenges using our own resources to the extent that we are able, but Heavenly Father and His Son are always there to help if we seek them. They will provide comfort, guidance, and direction to the extent that we communicate with them, and Rex knew that.
* We sometimes ask ourselves, “Why me?” Rex knew that he could just as well ask, “Why not me?” Rex understood that this life, though very brief in terms of eternity, is an all important time of testing and that we need to meet this test as well as we can because “We shall not pass this way again.”
* We talked about the meaning and significance of the plan of salvation in which each of us is a participant. Rex understood the real meaning of the scripture: “Man is that he might have joy,” and that joy comes only through self-sacrifice, through extending oneself for others. Rex lived this credo: “Service above self.” If someone needed help, Rex was there. Many a time he called up and asked: “Paul, will you go with me to give so and so a blessing?”
* On the subject of the great plan of salvation or the plan of happiness, let me read some comforting words from Alma 42:6-10. We are now living in a “preparatory state” where we make mistakes, but in the words of Alma, we can be “reclaimed” through the redeeming sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We talked about this wonderful gift.
* One day we talked about that great LDS concept given to us through the prophet Joseph Smith: “Man is as God once was, and God is what man may become.” The principle of eternal progression. We originated with God and we return to God. This is what the scriptures mean by saying that He is the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end. We talked about the significance of this concept to each one of us, namely that we must keep trying, that we can never be lazy and “rest on our laurels,” so to speak, that we must endure to the end. Indeed, Rex did just that.
* During the “Sermon on the Mount” Christ said: “...blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.” (Matt 5:4) We are also told in D&C 42: “Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die.” However, in death each of us can draw comfort from the great message of the Savior recorded in John 11:25,26--”I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”
* I suggest that each of you who are the posterity of O’Leah and Rex Hurst look at one another with wonder, and awe, and thanksgiving and hope. Each of you has in some measure those great genes of your parents, and their parents, and so forth. Your dad talked about tracing genealogy through DNA sampling. Isn’t that wonderful and marvelous. But there is something even more marvelous, an important bond you all have in common--that wonderful spiritual heritage of your parents. You are a great and wonderful posterity--a credit to the standards which they set as a couple. You will miss tremendously the physical presence of your father and grandfather. Each of us will, because he touched us all. You will miss your little talks, his words of advice and encouragement, the loving hugs, the admiring smile, the infectious laugh. You will miss all of these things and more. But you will always have the memories of happy times together--of times like trips to Lake Powell, of camping in the Wind Rivers. I can remember in 1977, our oldeste son David and I and Rex and his Son Gary went camping in the Wind Rivers. We got snowed on and we had to hike out though several inches of snow, but it was a great trip that we often think about. (Do you remember that trip Gary?) You have memories of seeing him on his bicycle, and so many more. You will always have these memories of happy times together. You are a testimony of the life and philosophy and love of the church of your dear parents.
* Each of you will be warmed and comforted by the sure knowledge that your husband (Lee), dad, and grandfather is now in a happier place. Richard L. Evans said, “Those who leave us are welcomed by others.” He has received a special and long awaited welcome.
* In the meantime, you (the children and grandchildren) stay close to your dear mother and grandmother. Provide her companionship and comfort, and love that she needs, especially at this time. In that sense, each of us can and will help.
* Today we can all sing with Harriet Beecher Stowe when she penned those marvelous lines:
“When sinks the soul, subdued by toil to slumber
Its closing eyes look up to thee in prayer.
Sweet the repose beneath thy wings o’er shading,
But sweeter still to wake and find thee there.
So shall it be at last in that bright morning,
When the soul waketh and life’s shadows flee.
Oh in that hour, fairer than daylight’s dawning,
Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with thee, still, still with thee.”
* Here we see the promise of the great plan of salvation, the promise of eternal life, the promise that your eternal companion, Lee, your dad and your grandfather is, in fact, not far away. The promise of being together as an eternal family in the presence of the Lord. “I am with thee, still, still with thee.”
* And so, dear friend, mentor, comforter, along with your beloved eternal family members, those of us who still lag behind in this mortal sphere, look forward to being again with you in the not too distant future. I personally look forward to renewing our back yard reveries on some lawn. I earnestly pray that we, like you, might endure faithfully, joyfully, and uncomplaining to the end, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Bishop:
Brothers and sisters, it’s been a beautiful service and its been a great privilege service and honor to listened to the words of a beautiful family – sons and daughters and grandsons of Brother Rex and sister O’Leah Hurst

During the years that I’ve been in the same ward with Brother and Sister Hurst, I’ve learned to have a great deal of love and respect for these good people and particularly for Brother Hurst as I had the opportunity to sit in same quorum during the last few years and participate in many gospel discussions.

I remember a few years ago. I can’t remember the topic of the discussion, but there was some disagreement among those there concerning exactly how it was. Brother Hurst participated avidly as he expressed his feelings. He was pretty strong in the expression of these feelings. And I learned to respect him because he was a man of principle and he was a man of honor.

How great it is to have men like Brother Hurst and to have families, eternal families during the world in which the family is being challenged. What a beautiful picture to look at this family. And to realize the great blessings we have from a loving Heavenly Father

I wish to express my gratitude to Brother and Sister Hurst for the example they have been to all of us during all these years. It is a tremendous honor to be associated with them.

Brothers and Sisters, I want to share just a few short words with you today.
As I have pondered and considered what I might say that might be a blessing to the family. My thoughts have gone back to the Savior Jesus Christ and to his atoning sacrifice. We know that As the Savior went through that period of time in his life
where he atoned for our sins, where he suffered greatly at the hands of wicked men Where he subsequently hung on the cross and gave his life for us.

There was an honorable man among the San Hedrin that went to Pilate after these events were completed and pleaded for the body of Christ. And took him and dressed him and prepared him and laid him in a Sepulcher. We all know that story. And there his body laid for three days while our Savior did some special work in that same place that Brother Hurst now resides.

It was on the third day (while the savior’s body had laid in the tomb) that Mary Magdalene and others who had prepared spice and oils to further administer to the Savior. They approached the tomb, and as we all remember, the great stone was laid back. And we are told:
Luke 24:2-4 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher and two angels standing by it in shining garments. And they entered into the sepulcher, not finding the body of the Lord Jesus they were much perplexed there about and were affrighted and bowed down, their faces to the earth. But behold the angel said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Brother and sisters, the message is when they went into the sepulcher his body was gone. Our Lord and Savior had taken it up again and was in a resurrected form.

A hope and a blessing which therefore is given to all of us.

What does it mean to all of us and what does it mean for Sister Hurst and this family as they lay brother Hurst to rest on this day and pick up their lives and continue?
There will be times of loneliness, particularly for Sr. Hurst and we ask the Lord’s blessings upon her. I’m sure her family with crowd around often to help fill the gap that will be left. But I’m sure our Saviors words are the most consoling and bring the most peace to our souls. As He said, Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. I go to prepare a place for you. That where I am, there may ye be also.

As has been said today, I’m sure that Brother Hurst will find great peace and great glory as he visits with the Savior and reports a life faithfully served and well done.

Finally, I want to read some words of President Monson as recorded in the most recent Ensign.

The darkness of death can ever be dispelled by the light of revealed truth
I am the resurrection and the life, saith the master.
He that believeth in me though we were dead, yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Added to his own words, are the words of an angel, spoken to the weeping Mary Magdalene and others as Mary approached the tomb to care for the body of Jesus.
Why seek ye the living among the dead. He is not here. He is risen. Such is the message.

He lives. And because he lives, all shall indeed live again. This knowledge provides the peace for the loved ones that are left after our loved ones are departed and gone to the other side.

This peace will be with Sister Hurst and her family. For surely, they are entitled to this peace. They have lived their lives in such a way that they will be blessed.

Of this wonderful blessing I testify. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that God lives. I know that Jesus is our redeemer and our savior.

I know in those comforting words in t his world of turmoil, awaiting yet our turn to join with those who have gone before and I leave this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer: Stephen Allan
Our dear Father in Heaven, as we conclude this celebration of Rex Hurst’s life, we humbly bow our heads before thee with gratitude in our hearts for blessings that the gospel brings to us.
We are thankful for Rex – the wonderful man that he was and that he still is. We are grateful for the Hurst family, the strength that they are.

Heavenly Father, we ask a special blessing on Lee. Let thy arms be wrapped around her.

Let her know of the love that thou hast for her and that Rex has for her. Bless us all that thy calming spirit will be with us, that our testimonies might grow stronger and our resolve stronger to do the things we should - to reach out to others, to help them and comfort them. We love thee very much.

We are grateful for the atonement of thy son, that one day, if we live righteously, we can return and live with thee again.

We love thee very much. And these things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.




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