Lucius M. 'Mike' Hurley
Lucius M. "Mike" Hurley, 76,
died Wednesday (Jan. 17, 2001) at Friendly Acres Retirement
Community.
He was born Sept. 4, 1924, to Tom and
Helen (Balch) Hurley in Newton. They preceded him in death. He
married Shirley Calder March 23, 1947. She survives.
He attended Newton public schools and
graduated from Newton High School in 1943. He was a U.S. Army Air
Corp veteran, serving with the 7th Geodetic Control Squadron from
1944 to 1947 during World War II. He worked for the Atchison Topeka
and Santa Fe Railroad between Newton and Dodge City for 39 years,
retiring in 1986. He was a member of the First United Methodist
Church, American Legion, Newton Masonic Lodge No. 142 AF&AM,
where he was a 32nd degree, Scottish rite Mason and past master. He
was a member of the Midian Shrine of Wichita, a charter member of
Midian Shrine Pipes and Drums, Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No.
5 of Newton, the United Transportation Union, the National Railway
Historical Society, Great Plains Transportation Museum of Wichita,
the Harvey County Historical Society, Jefferson County Historical
Society and the Kansas State Historical Society. He was a past member
of the "Pride of the Prairie" Barbershop Chorus and was one
of four men to start the avenue of flags for veterans on Memorial
Day. He wrote the book "Newton, Kansas, No. 1 Santa Fe Rail Hub:
1871-1971" and worked with a few others to save the 1880 engine
in Military Park. He studied genealogy and helped others with theirs.
He was a student of the Civil War and railroading and taught others
of these histories through tours and lectures.
Other survivors include: two sons, Tom
Hurley of West Minster, Colo., and Bob Hurley of Wichita; two
daughters, Cheryl Hurley of Wichita and Kim Benson of Newton; a
brother, Lomaye Hurley of Albuquerque, N.M.; six grandchildren; and
four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9
p.m. Thursday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday
at First United Methodist Church in Newton with the Rev. Mike Keating
officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorials have been established with
the Harvey County Historical Society in care of the funeral home.
