Gloria “Jean” Hurst, 69, of Cottage Grove, Ore. passed away from cancer January 11, 2022. Jean was born May 16, 1952 in Burns, Ore. to parents Leonard and Betty (Spigner) DeHaven. After graduating from high school Jean took some college courses and continued on to San Francisco Theology Seminary where she graduated in 2003 with a Masters degree in Divinity.
Jean worked for the City of Eugene for 25 years as a clerk, police dispatcher, and in invoicing. She ended her career with the city as an ITT (information technology technician). She changed her career path after that and used her Masters degree in Harney County 2004 where she became the pastor of Pioneer Presbyterian Church for 18 years.
She enjoyed working with the citizens of Harney County. She created and led grief groups, volunteered for the Lions Club at the Harney County Fair. She provided private counseling, community weddings and funerals. She also worked on getting a new ambulance for the hospital, helped raise funds for the Senior Center, Bank on Beef, Blessing in a Bag, the community garden and was a co-founder of Dollars for Scholars. Jean worked on Dinner Support of Hope Shelter, and helped to raise funds to provide 9 water purification systems through Living Water for the World. In her free time she loved to crochet, read, watch Harry Potter, go rock hunting, and spend time with her family.
Jean was a member of PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization), Food Bank Board, Have a Heart Drama Group, and the Lions Club.
She is survived by daughter Tanya (Tom) Thomason of Creswell, Ore; son James Hurst of Creswell; sister Janet (Matt) Kopp of Drain, Ore; brother Curtis DeHaven of Cottage Grove; brother Tom (Teresa) DeHaven of Springfield, Ore; brother Bruce (Tina) DeHaven of Grants Pass, Ore; 3 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Jean is preceded in death by her parents, John Cantonwine and Bud Hurst.
A memorial service will be held April 9, 2022 at 1 p.m. at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Eugene. Inurnment will be at Fir Grove Cemetery at a later date. Please make memorial contributions to Harney County Hospice, Harney County Senior Center, Kids Club, or Pioneer Presbyterian Church. Arrangements in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium in Cottage Grove.
