Obituary of James Albert Hurt

Jim Hurt, 87, a retired accountant, died Monday, February 10, 2025.

The Celebration of Life will be held at 2:30 pm, Monday, March 17 at the Cathedral of Hope, United Church of Christ, located at 5910 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, Texas. His ashes will be inurned in The Memorial Garden at the Cathedral of Hope, beside his partner, Jim Maertens.

Jim was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Disease in 1990. It is inherited and there are no treatments or cures. Jim kept reinventing himself as the disease progressed; from walking regularly to walking with a cane and then with a walker; from driving normally to driving utilizing hand controls. He was strong, remained independent, and was amazing.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cathedral of Hope Cathedral of Hope - A Congregation of United Church of Christ or CMT Research Foundation Donate | CMT Research Foundation.

Jim was born on August 10, 1937 in Gainesville, Texas. He was the son of the late Albert Lee and Mary Susan Hurt. He had one sister, Wanda Hurt Bentley (deceased March 1, 2006).  Jim graduated from Gainesville High School in 1955; he attended the University of Oklahoma for his freshman and sophomore years (1956 - 1957) and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration-Accounting in 1959 from North Texas State College, Denton Texas. Jim served in the US Army from 1960 – 1962. Jim became a Certified Public Accountant in 1981.

Jim worked at Otis Engineering in Carrollton, which was a Halliburton Company. Sometime in the 70’s he was transferred to Halliburton Corporate Accounting department in downtown Dallas. In 1984 a consolidated tax department was formed in the Halliburton downtown corporate office. Jim transferred there a couple of years later. In 2000, Jim was presented a plaque from Halliburton Company in Sincere Appreciation of Twenty-five Years of Service. In 2003 the entire Halliburton Corporate Office left Dallas for Houston and Jim chose not to move. He went to work for Essilor as a contract employee and left there until 2016 or so. Jim liked to leave for work early, and eat breakfast at Mama’s Daughters; before heading to work. He was a very private person who didn’t socialize much with the office group. He did make lifelong friends during his days as an accountant.

Jim was a longtime member of the Cathedral of Hope, from 1980 when Rev. Don Eastman was Pastor @ Reagan and Brown.  Sue Schrader and Jim recently conversed about the beginnings of the food pantry at Reagan & Brown and other benevolence ministries (Thanksgiving Baskets & Christmas). Hurt & Maertens were usher captains for years. Jim was a faithful giver right up to the very end and beyond. He supported all Cathedral of Hope fundraising efforts – Bell Wall; Expansion of Children’s area & Staff offices; Interfaith Peace Chapel; Driveway; Project Faith Lift. Jim was an original member of the Bell Wall Society, where members bequeath the church in their estate planning. Jim remained active in LEGACY – the social group for people 50+ in age.

Jim was a gentle giant. He was loved by many. He will be very missed.