William Boone "Bill" Hurt, 81, of Sedalia, died Saturday, December 6, 2003 at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia.
He was born April 5, 1922, in Pleasant Green, Missouri, son of Ewing and Annabel Mayfield Hurt. In 1942, in Sedalia, he was married to Mary Jeanette Higdon, who survives of Sedalia.
Mr. Hurt was a graduate of Pilot Grove High School and attended Central Missouri State University. He was an employee and part-owner of Hurt's General Store in Pleasant Green. He was a Army veteran of World War II. From 1942-1945 he was a staff sergeant in the Quarter Masters Corp and spent three years as chief file clerk in the classification and assignment branch of Headquarters Company, Ft. Warren, Cheyenne, Wyoming. After his discharge from the Army he owned and operated the Standard Oil Bulk Station in Bunceton, Missouri. He later was a sales representative for General Foods, Inc. and traveled throughout Missouri for 35 years. He was known as the "Jello King."
After retirement he enjoyed working on his family farm, fishing and trips throughout the United States and several foreign countries.
He was an officer of Travelers' Protective Association, and member of American Legion Post 642, Wesley United Methodist Church, the Cooper County Historical Society, the Pettis County Republican Committee and a charter member of Walnut Hills Surf Club. He was a former member of the Pettis County Sheriff's Personnel Board, the Sedalia Police Department Personnel Board, the Knife and Fork Club and the Sedalia Country Club.
Also surviving are two sons, William Ewing Hurt, of Washington, D.C. and Steven Higdon Hurt, of St. Joseph, Missouri; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 10 at the Heckart/Gillespie Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Frederick Zahn officiating.
Pallbearers will be Clarence Blume, Bill Stevens, Gary Starke, Fred Biggs, Miles Wolfe and Larry Foster.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Mosier, Gary Hayden, Lee Decker, Seigel Woodard, Leo Richards, Hugh Harvey Hurt, Leslie Chamberlin, Elda Dotson, Faye Burrus, Virginia Hays-Priest, Dr. O.J. Durnell, Dr. Stan Wilson, Jerry Ann Mayfield, Kenny Schilb and Mike Mittenberg.
Burial will be in Providence Baptist Church Cemetery, Highway 135 North.
Friends may call from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday and after 8 a.m. Wednesday, where the family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until service time Wednesday.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Wesley United Methodist Church or Providence Baptist Church Cemetery.
