Stanley Parnall Hurst, 83, of Fillmore, passed away at home on February 1, 2015, from complications from a stroke.
He was born July 25, 1931, in Hollywood, Calif., to Walter and Hilda Hurst. Stan grew up on the family’s citrus ranch in Bardsdale, where he shared many good times with his younger brother Jim, cousins and friends. He graduated from Fillmore High School in 1949 and went on to attend Ventura College and Stanford University.
In 1954, he went to Elgin Watchmaker College in Elgin, Ill., and returned to Fillmore where he opened Hurst’s Jewelers. It was at this time that he began dating Beverly Chaney, and they were married on Feb. 4, 1961. Stan and Bev moved to the family citrus ranch on Grand Avenue where they raised their three daughters, Heather, Amanda (Mandy) and Diana (Dee Dee).
After selling the jewelry store, Stan worked on the family citrus ranch as well as working at Bowmar T.I.C. in Newbury Park as an electronics technician and later at Dave’s Building Supply in Santa Paula. He also helped oversee the various Haase family properties in the Santa Clara Valley.
Stan loved the railroad, as his grandfather W.C. Hurstwaspresident of the Chicago & Iillinois Midland Railway Company when Stan was a young boy. Stan was a member of the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society and volunteered as a car attendant on the Fillmore Western Railway until health issues prevented him from being involved.
As a lifelong resident of Fillmore, Stan was well loved by his family and members of the community. He was devoted to his family and friends throughout his life. He was an extremely patient, thoughtful and positive person with a wonderful, dry sense of humor. Despite the physical disabilities he endured over the years, he never complained and remained strong yet gentle his entire lifetime.
The following tribute, written by one of Stan’s sons-in-law,describes Stan well:
“Stan the Man”
Good men abound,
And a few great men can be found.
But Stan stands above them –
On much higher ground.
He’s quiet…but not shy.
How smart he is, you might not know.
He likes life plain and simple
And doesn’t put on a show.
Stan has married a good woman
And raised three great girls
They all love and adore him,
And that really shows.
His grandkids are sweet –
The apple of his eye.
They want to follow in his footsteps,
To be just like that guy.
Stan’s friends you cannot number,
Like pebbles on a beach.
Because he makes friends
With just about everyone he meets.
Fancy clothes and fast cars – that’s just not for him.
Work boots and slow trains – now that’s more his game.
Stan wears many hats:
Watchmaker, grower, conductor,
Son, husband, dad and grandpa.
And for lucky guys like Donny, Shad and me,
We’re proud to call him Father-in-Law.
~ Brian Burris
Stan is survived by his wife Beverly Hurst; daughters Heather Burris (husband Brian) of Ventura; Amanda Brady (husband Donny) of Woodland Park, Co.; Diana Hurst (fiancée Shad Reinke) of Woodland Park, Co.; grandchildren Breeanne and Kyla Burris, Matthew, Emily and Jared Brady, and Alaina Hoover; brother Jim Hurst (wife Linda) and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Hilda Hurst.
The family would like to thank everyone for their loving support, especially over the past two months. Special gratitude goes to Dr. Michael Swartout and staff, caregivers Josie Morua and Helen Riesgo, and the staff of Roze Room Hospice.
An open house celebrating Stan’s life will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at the Fillmore Historical Museum Depot (350 Main St.) from 1 to 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society (SCRVRHS, P.O. Box 492, Fillmore, CA, 93016) or Fillmore Historical Museum (P.O. Box 314, Fillmore, CA, 93016)