Joan M. Hurley

Joan M. "Buttercup" Hurley, of Cambridge, passed away at the Dorchester General Hospital on Saturday, October 23, 2010. She was born in Cambridge on August 31, 1932, and was a daughter of the late Crawford O'Neill Murphy, Sr. and the late Beatrice Brohawn Murphy.

She attended schools in Cambridge and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1949. As a young girl she was a Girl Scout. Joan then attended Church Home Hospital Nursing School in Baltimore, where she graduated as a Registered Nurse at the age of 19. On August 29, 1952 she was married to Jesse B. Hurley, Jr. She worked at the Cambridge Maryland Hospital from 1952 until 1955 as a charge nurse in both the Operating Room and on the General Floor. In 1955 she went to work at the Eastern Shore State Hospital where she helped develop the Medical Surgical Building and also worked as an instructor at the State Hospital LPN School. In 1961 she and her husband opened Jess Jr's. Body Shop as co-owner, company nurse as well as business manager. Later the business became Jess Jr's & Sons Body Shop, and then expanded to Jess Jr's Enterprises where she was currently serving as CEO and CFO. Along with business and family obligations she was involved with the Boy Scouts of American as a Den Mother for 9 years watching her oldest son become and Eagle Scout. Joan also supported Little League Baseball, serving as an original Board Member of the Cambridge Little League and was one of the board member overseeing the construction of the Pliescott Little League Park. From 1970 until 1975 she was appointed by the governor to serve on the Dorchester Co. Board of Education. She was a Past Matron of Minerva Chapter # 50 O.E.S., and also served as Grand Electa in the Grand Chapter of O.E.S. As a Grand Officer she had visited 105 Eastern Star Chapters in the State of Maryland. She was also Past President of the Ladies Shrine Club of the Eastern Shore. She had been in failing health for several years and had been a patient at the Dorchester General Hospital since last Sunday morning when she passed away early Saturday morning with her family by her side.

Survivors include her husband Jesse B. Hurley, Jr. of Cambridge, two sons Jeffery O. Hurley, Sr. of Cambridge, Jed M. Hurley, Sr. and his wife Brenda of Cambridge, three grandchildren Jeffery O. Hurley, Jr., Jed "J.R." Hurley, Jr. and Amanda Jo Hurley-Hubbard, one brother Douglas C. Murphy of Cambridge and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a son Jay L. Hurley, a granddaughter Jessica Anne Hurley, a sister Mary L. Murphy and two brothers Barry B. Murphy and Crawford O. Murphy, Jr.

To benefit medical science, Joan donated her body for research. Members of Roelma Chapter # 113 Order of the Eastern Star will conduct an Eastern Star Memorial service on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 PM at the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge, which will be followed by a memorial service with the Rev. Fred Bahr and the Rev. Douglas M. Ridley officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM until 2:00 PM on Thursday. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Joan M. Hurley Nursing Scholarship Fund, c/o the Bank of the Eastern Shore, P.O. Box 757, Cambridge, MD 21613.