Mary Elizabeth Hurley Schoolar, 97, went home to be with Jesus on Monday, December 13, 2021. She passed peacefully in her sleep with her children by her side. Mary had been a resident at the Baptist Reynolds Hospice house for nearly 4 months. They took excellent care of her during her last days and we will be forever grateful. We would also like to publicly thank her wonderful caregivers when she lived at her home: Pat Cannon, Sandra Fagbola, Sharon Reed, and Vickie Arnett. We couldn’t have made it without them!
Mary is preceded in death by her first husband Charles Hurley, her second husband, Bill Schoolar, her daughter, Barbara Hurley Dowdy, her sister, Gertrude Arnett & husband J.W. Arnett, nephew Larry Arnett, and her beloved Aunt Clara Wilson.
Mary was born to Birdie and David Morthland on January 7, 1924. She was a lifelong Memphian who graduated from South Side High School in 1942. She married her high school sweetheart, Charles Hurley. They were married for 37 years and had 3 children; Barbara, Beverly, & Buddy. Mary and Charles loved taking a vacation every year with their children. Mary enjoyed playing Canasta, Scrabble, and all types of board games. She and Charles, whom she affectionately called "Hurley," were season ticket holders to the Memphis State Basketball games at the Mid - South Coliseum and were huge fans. In retirement, Mary enjoyed some traveling but mostly enjoyed her children, her grandchildren, activities at Ridgeway Baptist Golden Agers, and cooking for her family. She was an excellent cook and was famous for her turkey and dressing on Thanksgiving!
Survivors on the Hurley side of the family include daughter Beverly Hurley Williams and son Charles Michael "Buddy" Hurley. She leaves 5 grandchildren, Jeff Dowdy (Heather), Laurie Dowdy, Hunter Williams (Jennifer Youngblood), Holly Williams Callonas (Mike) and Mary Kathryn Hurley Duke (Michael). She leaves 8 great-grandchildren, who include Drew Dowdy, Anna Claire Dowdy, Gracie Williams, Madelyn Callonas, McKinley Williams, Gabriel Duke, Harrison Callonas, and Saylor Duke.
Survivors on the Schoolar side of the family include daughters Lee Schoolar Lindsay (Jerry) and Catherine Schoolar Smith (Randolph). She leaves 7 grandchildren, Lindsay Robichaux (Duane), Brad Lindsay (Jacki), David Cooley (Kristin), Aaron Cooley (Jaimee), Ian Smith (Charlotte), Spencer Smith, and Kayse Smith. She leaves 6 great-grandchildren, Jenny Robichaux, Andrew Robichaux, Hadley Cooley, Charlotte Cooley, Catherine Cooley, and Emily Lindsay. Mary will be missed by so many!
Visitation will take place on Friday, December 17, 2021 at the Memphis Funeral Home at 5599 Poplar, Memphis, TN 38119. It will begin at 11:00 a.m. Refreshments will be served during visitation. The celebration of Mary's life will begin at 12:00 noon. The service will be livestreamed for those that cannot attend in person. Burial will take place at approximately 1:30 p.m. at Forest Hill Midtown Cemetery located at 1661 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, TN 38106
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary's honor to the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville, TN or the Golden Agers Club at Ridgeway Baptist Church, Memphis, TN.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralPoplar.com for the family.
