ARTHUR WARREN HURLEY

HURLEY, ARTHUR WARREN, 95, died April 6, 2011 at home in Windermere, surrounded by the love of his family. He was born in Tildenville, Fla. Nov. 19, 1915 to early west Orange settlers A.W. and Clara Tilden Hurley. and was the grandson of 19th century settlers Luther Fuller and Emily Willis Tilden. He was a member of the first 4-year graduating class of the "new" Lakeview High and attended the University of Florida and Florida Southern where he studied agricultural sciences. In his early 20's, he grew and shipped fresh farm vegetables, owning a small trucking business that delivered Florida-grown produce up and down the east coast. In 1941 he enlisted in the army and served four years in north Africa, Italy, England, Germany and France, mustering out July 4, 1945. He was a citrus grower after the war and managed Hurley Groves until the freezes of 1989. He also developed a small private airport at Crown Point, bought a plane and became a licensed pilot. Several local residents also learned to fly there. In 1949 Warren married Sue Shaw and together they raised four children. A member of First Baptist Church of Winter Garden since 1927, he was an ordained deacon and chair of the finance and start-up committee that established the first kindergarten there, the beginning of Foundation Academy. He also served as City Commissioner for Winter Garden in the early 1960's. A skilled boat builder, he built cabin cruisers and participated with his family in the Kissimmee River Boat-a-Cade, the Pirate cruise, Seminole Indian cruise on the St. John's river and the Silver Dollar cruise to Silver Springs. In 1965 the family moved to Windermere where the family became active in the small mission that would become the First Baptist Church of Windermere, of which he was a charter member. He headed the building committee there to enlarge the small mission building and construct the parsonage on Forest Street. A devoted family man, he was an Indian Guides leader, treehouse builder, wagon-puller, taxi driver, driving instructor, hiking partner well into his 80's and a quiet example of unwavering integrity. He derived his greatest joy from his family, whom he loved unconditionally. He will be deeply missed and always loved. Survivors include his wife Sue, his children Michael (Patti), John Casey (Kara) and Sally (Scott); son James Arthur (Karole) predeceased him in May 2010; his grandchildren Lynn Pool (Rob), Nathan and Parker Hurley, Sam Stage, great-grandaughter Grace Herzog, nieces Ann Pruet Adnet, Janet Massey and Cathy Pyland and nephews Richard and Bill Thompson. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.... A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 28 at 10:00 am at the historic Oakland cemetery on Sadler Street in Oakland, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to Foundation Academy, Windermere Baptist Church, Smile Train or
Hospice of the Comforter.