Jane L. Hurie

January 22, 1921 - March 1, 2021

Jane Eichenauer Lynn Hurie, 100, of Tallula died Monday, March 1, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. at Sunny Acres Nursing Home in rural Petersburg. Jane was born January 22, 1921 in Petersburg, the only child of Paul Timothy Lynn and Alma Kathryn Eichenauer Lynn. She married Hickory Houghton Hurie on August 12, 1944 in San Francisco, California. Hickory preceded Jane in death on August 30, 2004. Hickory and Jane were married for 60 years. Mrs. Hurie attended Walnut Ridge School in rural Petersburg, was a graduate of Petersburg Harris High School, MacMurray College BA, Jacksonville, Illinois, and the University of Illinois School of Social Work, MSW Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. Jane was a saved Born Again Christian, who had invited Jesus into her heart to be her Lord and Savior. She was a member of Rock Creek Presbyterian Church in rural Tallula for over 70 years. At Rock Creek Church, Jane was a member of the Ladies Missionary Circle, the Advancers Couples Mission Group, taught Sunday School classes of various ages, was instrumental in the development of the Rock Creek Church Spiritual Center and the construction of the expansion and addition of the Rock Creek Church building. Jane’s professional life was varied. After graduating from MacMurray College she taught high school English in the Jacksonville area. She then became a Social Worker in East St. Louis, Illinois and then Muscatine, Iowa and finally a caseworker for the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services before concluding her social work career as a supervisor for DCFS. After retiring from DCFS, Jane worked as a doctor’s receptionist for the office of Doctors Nolan and Diamond. In addition to her professional careers, Jane was a loving mother and farm wife to her two children and her farming husband, Hickory. Besides her varied professional life, Jane was active in civic life as well. Jane was an active member of DAR, Petersburg Women’s Club, Menard County Lady Landowners, Rock Creek School PTA, and an enthusiastic supporter of the 4-H program. Jane had participated in 4-H as a youngster and encouraged her children and community children to participate in 4-H as well. She was an active parent participant in the Rock Creek 4-H Club activities based out of Rock Creek School and Church. Whether it was 4-H Share the Fun, agricultural field trips, coaching up 4-H speeches and demonstrations, or the 4-H activities at the Menard County Fair, Jane was all in as a booster and encourager of 4-H and all the programs 4-H provides. In her leisure time, Jane enjoyed gardening, especially raising flowers and gourds. She also enjoyed attending the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved drives in the rural areas of Menard, Cass, and Sangamon counties, chatting about the various farms and the folks she knew who inhabited the homes and farmed the various farmsteads. She enjoyed eating out, especially the hilltop eatery at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site. Jane was an avid baseball fan, especially of the Chicago Cubs. She would watch televised Cubs games and keep an inning by inning box score account of the game action. She was ecstatic when the Cubbies won the 2016 World Series and broke the 108 year drought. Her only reservation in victory was that her favorite Cubs player, Starlin Castro, had been traded and was not with the Cubs to celebrate. Surviving Jane are one son, John Timothy Hurie (wife Mary Jane) of Petersburg; one daughter Susan Lynn Anderson (husband Jim) of Tallula; two grandchildren, Jefferson Josiah Hurie (wife Shellie) of Bloomington, Illinois and Kathryn Lynn Parrack (husband Tony) of Creve Coeur, Missouri; two step-grandchildren Jamie Lynn Sorenson (husband Chris) of Stoughton, Wisconsin and John Wallace Anderson (wife Christina) of Versailles, Missouri; great-grandchildren Gabi, Emme, and Alex Hurie; Wyatt and Ben Parrack; Savannah and Maggie Sorenson; and Brooke and Evelyn Anderson. Services are to be held on Friday, March 5, 2021 at Rock Creek Church, 16945 Rock Creek Ave, Tallula, Illinois 62688. An open community visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and a private family service from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with Reverend Joanne Hinds officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Petersburg. Memorial donations can be made in Jane’s name to Rock Creek Presbyterian Church or the Menard County Food Pantry. Online condolences can be left for her family at www.hurleyfh.com Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg is in charge of arrangements.