Michael Edward Hurley

Michael Edward Hurley was born March 29, 1941 in Pontiac, Michigan to Mark and Mary Hurley. He moved as a newborn to the Phoenix area and always considered himself a native Arizonan. Mike attended St. Matthew's grammar and St. Mary's high school in Phoenix and until his death, still maintained friendships with many schoolmates from those days. After high school, Mike graduated with honors from Carroll College in Helena, Montana. There, he met his forever partner in love and life, Nancy Connolly. They embarked on an adventure that first took them to San Francisco, where Mike drove a taxi until he received his law degree from The University of San Francisco in 1966. Mike then returned with his young family to Phoenix, where he worked in the county attorney's office and later became Scottsdale City Prosecutor before entering private practice in 1971. Mike's commitment to service and generosity were always a part of who he was. Involved in the Boy's Clubs of America as a child, he returned as an adult to serve as president of the Agnes Miller BCA unit for some time. Mike also had a special devotion to The Little Sisters of The Poor, who visited him at work and never left empty-handed. An avid runner and skier, one of Mike's proudest moments was finishing The Boston Marathon, and he ran almost nightly until just months before his death. Mike's biggest legacy may be the quiet leadership he modeled for so many of his friends, family and colleagues through examples of service, integrity and respect for all people. Mike was a vast resource of legal knowledge and other attorneys at his office building often popped in to seek his advice on their cases. In the early 2000s, Mike became involved in organizations that provided legal assistance to underserved communities in need of family law advice and representation. Soon it became the bulk of his practice. Mike has received numerous awards for his exemplary legal service to the people of Maricopa County and was inducted into Carroll College's Hall of Fame. In 2019, Mike was honored by The Arizona Supreme Court as The Pro Bono Attorney of The Year. At 80 years old, Mike was still practicing law full-time until just before his death.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Mark and Mary, and his sisters, Margaret Mary, Nancy Cressey and Alice Ackel. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Nancy, his children Mark Hurley (Debbie Anderson), Amy Hurley, and Michael Ryan Hurley (Candice). He's also survived by his four beloved grandchildren, Brendan, Erin, Kevin and Liam; his sister Judy Cunningham (Jim) and scores of nieces and nephews who adored him. He was a very special and humble human being who touched so many people's lives. His family will miss their patriarch terribly. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, July 13th, at 10:30 A.M. at The Franciscan Renewal Center 5802 E. Lincoln Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85253. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Mike's name to Community Legal Services Family Lawyer Assistance Project (https://clsaz.org/) by selecting the link below.