Joan Beene Hurt

Joan Beene Hurt, born and raised in Big Spring and a longtime resident of West Covina, a suburb of Southern California, passed peacefully with her daughter, Vivien, at her side on Friday, August 1. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 23 at the First Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow at Mount Olive Memorial Park, where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband of 58 years. A meal will follow at FPC, Big Spring.

Joan was born on January 24, 1931, twenty minutes after her twin sister, Joyce, and was the second eldest of four beautiful daughters of Horace Chilton Beene and Nelly Mae Sullivan. Because they were tiny and fragile, the twins were placed in a warming oven to help them survive their first hours of life. Judging from their strong and spirited personalities, it certainly worked. The Sullivan family had come to Big Spring in the 1880s with the Texas and Pacific Railroad, among the area’s earliest pioneers. Joan and Joyce became favorites of the Bradshaw camera studio, leaving behind many treasured photographs of their childhood. Together, the twins sang in the junior choir at First Presbyterian Church of Big Spring, a joyful beginning to Joan’s lifelong love of music and faith.

During her school years, Joan was active and full of energy. At Big Spring High School, she played on the basketball team, showing both her athleticism and her team spirit. After graduation, she attended Howard County Junior College, where she studied bookkeeping. While working at the Settles Hotel pharmacy, she met Harry Hurt Jr. The two fell deeply in love, and later became engaged at the Texas A&M ring ceremony, an occasion she cherished for the rest of her life. They soon married and moved to Southern California, where Harry worked as an aerospace engineer and later as a professor at USC.

In Southern California, Joan embraced both family and new pastimes. She devoted her life wholeheartedly to her children and grandchildren, finding joy in simple moments on the back porch or in long, laughter-filled visits with her sisters on the phone. She especially loved cooking for her family and took great pride in holiday celebrations, always making sure that everyone felt welcomed, loved, and gathered around a wonderful meal. She was especially known for her prime rib and mashed potatoes, a family favorite that became the centerpiece of many memorable gatherings. She also had a special love for decorating for every holiday, filling her home with warmth and festive touches that made celebrations even more memorable. Joan loved attending USC football games, especially watching her children perform in the halftime shows, and she continued to enjoy cheering on the Trojans on television. She also took up tennis, a sport she enjoyed throughout her years there, reflecting her love of staying active.

She adored her grandchildren, who knew her love to be boundless and unconditional. They gave her many special names—Grandma, Nana, and Guamie—each one a tender reflection of the unique bond she shared with them. She also had a lifelong devotion to dogs and took great joy in evening walks with her beloved Honey Dog.

Joan had many passions. She was an avid reader and passed on that love to her grandchildren, a gift that continues through them today. Later in life, she discovered her artistic side and enjoyed drawing flowers and birds, a pursuit that brought her much joy. She was also deeply engaged in her community, serving as a member of the Covina Women’s Club, actively participating in the PTA, and volunteering with the West Covina High School Performing Arts. She was also a member of First Presbyterian Church of Covina and West Covina, where she found fellowship and continued her commitment to her faith.

In her final years, Joan was lovingly cared for at home by her daughter Vivien and devoted son-in-law, Jim, who faithfully cared for her with endless patience, love, and dedication. When she later entered hospice, she quickly became a favorite of the staff, who enjoyed spending time with her and often remarked on the joy she brought to their days. She delighted in sharing with them the beauty of nature and the peace of being outdoors, and she extended compassion to her fellow residents, treating them with the same warmth she had always given to family and friends. The staff cared for her like a cherished family member, and many expressed that they wished she had been their mother—a reflection of the kindness, grace, and love that defined her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her two younger sisters, Jane and Judy, and her youngest daughter, Vera. She is survived by her beloved twin sister, Joyce Alexander of Junction, TX; sons Harry Hurt III (wife Debbie) of Abilene and John Hurt of Riverside, CA; daughters Julie Hartwig of Duluth, MN, and Vivien Martin (husband Jim) of Jurupa Valley, CA. Her grandchildren include Kimberly and Lydia Hurt; Dominique, Lyndsey, and Tyler Nason; Katie Hartwig; Jimmy, Jeffrey, and Cady (Mari) Martin, along with many great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends who will continue to carry her memory in their hearts.

Joan’s life was marked by warmth, creativity, devotion, and love. She made each person she touched feel cherished, and the legacy she leaves behind is one of kindness, joy, and unwavering family bonds.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a local animal shelter, honoring Joan’s lifelong devotion to animals and the special place her beloved Honey Dog held in her heart.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory.  Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com

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