Dorothy (Coby) Hurst

Dorothy (Coby) Hurst turned 97 and left us as she headed for that other shore where so many, including JC, her husband of 53 years, her parents, her beloved siblings, cousins and friends, have been waiting for her. She came to Tucson in the 40s from Eveleth, MN, and fell in love with the mountains. She decided she’d go back to Minnesota, teach one more year, return to Tucson, marry a man, have his children and spend the rest of her life in Tucson in a house with a swimming pool and a palm tree. She had done her share of clearing snow while earning her BS in Duluth, MN, and if her time as a WWII Navy Link Trainer operator in Banana River, Florida taught her anything, it was that no matter how hot it got she never had to shovel it.

Coby, a tireless volunteer, gave tens of thousands of hours to El Dorado Hospital and was the first volunteer in the door when they opened, and the last to leave when they closed. She gave blood, worked in her children’s school library, baked for their classes as well as Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and did so many other volunteer jobs it would be difficult to mention them all. She is beloved and remembered by neighborhood kids and the friends of her children as a nurturing beacon of acceptance and warmth. She was honored with a Ben’s Bell award, and was the recipient of a Columbia/HCA Humanitarian Award for exemplary service in the healthcare community. She raised her children to be volunteers, and they did the same with their children. Our deeds long outlive us, and in this we will never die.

Even with all her dedication to humanity, Coby still found the time to make friends with slot machines all over Arizona and Las Vegas.

She will be terribly missed and was sent off with grateful, loving and breaking hearts by her children, Jon (Kathy) Hurst, Margaret Lacey, Julianne (Neal) Williams; niece Cobyann, who was more like a daughter; grandchildren Sean Sathya Lacey and Mason Madea; her step-grandchildren whom she loved dearly: JeaneMarie, Joyce-Ayn, Tony, Caitlin and Brandon, as well as their children, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by Teddy Kilian, the last of her 9 siblings.

Coby was proud of her 100% Slovenian heritage and traveled to “The Old Country,” bringing back wonderful stories, and quirky Slovenian sayings and rhymes.

A mass will be said at St. Cyril’s of Alexandria at 10 am February 10, with visitation the previous evening from 5-8 at Adair’s Dodge Chapel. A private interment will be at Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery at a later date.

The family is grateful to the staff at Serenity, and Heartland Hospice for all their support and love. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Coby’s name to Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Relief Services or find the time to do some volunteer work.