Olen Varner Hurst Jr.

He was born in Oklahoma City, OK on November 26th, 1937 to parents Olen and Eleanor Hurst. Olen graduated from Classen High school in May of 1955. He then went on to receive a BS in Chemical Engineering from OSU in August of 1960, following that he completed his MS in Chemical Engineering in May of 1961. He then went on to obtain his MBA in May of 1974 from OCU.

Olen was married to Judith Lee Smith on August 23rd, 1958. He had a career in Chemical Petroleum Engineering for Phillips 66, as well as Kerr McGee, where he retired on June 20th, 1997. He was a member of the Stroud Regional Medical Center Foundation, the Stroud Lions Club, and the Chamber of Commerce. Olen was even named Citizen of The Year by Stroud, OK. He had a passion for baseball, stocks repairs, and people. Olen was truly a jack of all trades.

Giving back was simply a way of life for Olen and Judy Hurst. In addition to helping rebuild a community, the couple established an endowment with a gift of retirement fund assets that will helped support student missionaries at Oklahoma Christian University for years to come.

The couple, who lived in Stroud, relocated there in 1999 after a tornado had destroyed much of the town. Following Olen's retirement from Kerr-McGee Corporation, the couple was moving back to Oklahoma from Houston with plans to buy a home in Edmond. As they drove through Stroud and witnessed the damage from the recent storm, they decided to move there instead to help rebuild the community. This is just one example of the couple's giving nature.

After moving to Stroud the couple became very active in the community and helped to support the rebuilding of the Stroud Regional Medical Center, which had been completely destroyed by the tornado. Olen was the chairman of Stroud Regional Medical Center Foundation, he served as president of the Lion's Club and in 2002, was named Citizen of the Year by the Stroud Chamber of Commerce.

The Hurst's had three sons, two of which attended Oklahoma Christian University. Through their experience with the school, they were moved by stories of students traveling on mission trips. God had greatly blessed them, and in tum they wanted to help give back to these young people. In 2011, through a gift of retirement fund assets, the couple established the Olen V. Hurst Oklahoma Christian University Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to support student missionaries, In appreciation, Oklahoma Christian University matched the Hurst's gift, doubling the endowment fund.

Olen is survived by his wife of 63 years, Judy Hurst of Stroud, OK. Sons, Doug (Julie) Hurst of Hooker, OK, Kent Hurst of Cypress, TX, Matt (Amber) Hurst of Tomball, TX. Grandchildren, Tanner Hurst of Hooker, OK, Weston and Hudson of Tomball, TX. As well as his sister, Susan (Walt) Shumate of Edmond, Oklahoma.

A funeral service will be held for Olen at 10 am, Thursday, September 2nd at Memorial Park Funeral Home located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with an entombment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be made, in memory of Olen, to one of the following foundations:

The Stroud Health Care Center, the Oklahoma Christian University Nursing Department, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, or the Olen V. Hurst Oklahoma Christian University Fund Scholarship.