Emily Gene Ryan Chadwick Hurst

Emily Gene Ryan Chadwick Hurst, age 86, departed this earthly life to be with the Lord, on July 9, 2011, at Oak Manor Nursing Home in Booneville, Ark. She was born to George C. and Mildred Loyd Ryan on April 8, 1925 in Blue Mountain, Arkansas. She completed the first through the sixth grades at Blue Mountain Schools and then attended Magazine Schools through the 12th grade, graduating in May, 1942. She attended one semester at Chillicothe Business School in Chillicothe, Mo. By then we were in the middle of World War II and Gene went to work as a Civil Service employee in the Pentagon for the War Department in Washington, D.C. She was cleared for Top Secret and handled highly classified material until the war ended. She continued working with Top Generals until 1952 when she married Jimmy Chadwick and started her family. Ryan Darlene Chadwick was born February 17, 1953. Gene returned to Arkansas to be near her family as Darlene was the only grandchild. She worked for Insurance Companies in Little Rock until her retirement in 1987. On November 25, 1987, she married Elmo Hurst and moved to Cotter, Arkansas where she lived until Elmo passed away. Then in 2008 she moved back to Blue Mountain to be near her grandson and her sister. She was a member and past President of Insurance Women of Little Rock, a member and Past Worthy Matron of Eastern Star, Levy Chapter No. 577 in North Little Rock, a member of First Christian Church, in Mountain Home, Ark., and a member of Blue Mountain Extension Homemakers. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Elmo Hurst, her daughter, Ryan Darlene Chadwick, her brother, George Carroll Ryan, and her sister, Joan Ryan. She is survived by a sister, Grace Ryan Calva of Blue Mountain, Ark.; a grandson, Holden Ryan Chadwick, of Blue Mountain, Ark.; several cousins; and a host of friends. Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the Little Vine Primitive Baptist Church in Blue Mountain, Ark., with Elder James Isaacs, officiating. Burial will be in Blue Mountain Cemetery, with arrangements by Roberts Funeral Home in Booneville. Pallbearers will be Holden Chadwick, James Fields, Fred Adair, Larry Page, Tommy York, Dale Dickens, Philip Hurst and Willie Roark. The family will visit with family and friends on Tuesday, July 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home in Booneville, Ark. Memorials may be made to Blue Mountain Cemetery Maintenance Fund Trust, c/o First Western Bank, P.O. Box 32, Magazine, Ark. 72943.