Margaret Ellen Hurst

February 1, 1942 – April 21, 2024

Margaret Ellen Hurst, age 82, of Indianapolis, IN passed away on Sunday April 21, 2024, at home with her husband and daughters at her side.

Margaret Potter Hurst was born in La Farge, WI, the fifth of eight children. Sensing a call to missions, she attended Free Methodist Bible College and then completed a 3-year program at Bethany Missionary Training College. Following her education, she moved to Lincoln, NE to live with a sister, and here she met her husband, George, who she married in 1964. Together they attended further missionary training, and then pastored a church in Detroit Lakes, MN while they applied to the Church of the Nazarene for overseas mission assignment.

In 1974 they moved to the Republic of South Africa. They learned the Zulu language, and served in training local pastors, church building construction, and college teaching. She miraculously survived a devastating car accident in 1976, although sadly she and George lost their infant son in that accident.

In 1995 they left Africa to serve briefly in Manilla, Philippines, and then returned to the US in 1996, settling in Indianapolis. Margaret worked at Light and Life Bookstore, and served as Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, and NMI president. She completed her studies for ordination and was ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene in 2004.

Outside of work and after retirement, Margaret enjoyed reading, coloring, sudoku, word puzzles and chatting with her siblings online. She loved visits from her daughters and their husbands, and especially her grandchildren. Throughout her life, she strove to make others feel welcomed and comfortable, and ministered to those around her in any situation.

Margaret is survived by her husband of 60 years George A. Hurst of Indianapolis, IN, daughter Rebecca (Tom) Schnurr of Herscher, IL, daughter Christina (Josh) Miller of Indianapolis, IN, granddaughter Morgan Schnurr of Herscher, IL, grandson Samuel Miller of Indianapolis, IN, sister Ona Madden of Vincennes, IN, sister Leota Chadwick of Hillsboro, WI, sister Helen (Bernal) Ewing of Hillsboro, WI, sister Rozella (Rick) Spry of La Farge, WI, brother Harvey Potter of La Farge, WI, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She is preceded in death by her father Stanley Potter, her mother Una (Parr) Potter, sister Mary (Dale) Fish, brother Joe Potter, and infant son Matthew A. Hurst.

A visitation for Margaret will be held Friday, April 26, 2024, from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at Grace Pointe Church of the Nazarene, 10951 E County Rd 100 S, Indianapolis, Indiana 46231. A funeral service will occur Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 11:00 with visitation during the 30 minutes prior, at Grace Pointe Church of the Nazarene.

Margaret will be laid to rest in West Ridge Park Cemetery, 9295 W 21st St, Indianapolis, IN 46234.

Contributions in Margaret’s memory may be made to Nazarene Missions International, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas 66220, https://nazarene.org/give.