Mary E. Hurley

Mary E. Hurley, age 87, of Blanchester, formerly of Washington C.H., passed away peacefully Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Continental Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation in Blanchester. She was born May 7, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Robert G. and Dorothy Mae (Campbell) Fox. Mary was a 1956 graduate Washington High School in Washington Court House. She had worked for Mac Tools, retiring in 1988. After retiring, she then spent time working for Wal-Mart in both Washington C.H. and Wilmington. Mary didn’t know a stranger. She was very generous with her time, money, and her famous thumbprint cookies. She had a heart for the lonely and the hurting. Mary spent many years volunteering with Fayette County Hospice and The Well in Washington C.H. Mary loved deeply and nothing was more important to her than her family. She was an amazing mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed, but there is so much joy in knowing that all her years serving Jesus has paid off. She will now get to spend eternity with Him. Mary is survived by her daughter Julie Beth Crabtree Ray and her husband Philip of Blanchester; son John Crabtree and his wife Cindy of Wilmington; grandchildren, William (Brenda) McCoy of Sunderland, Maryland, Tiffany (Shawn) Reevie of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Christopher (Logan) Crabtree of Plain City, Ohio, Courtney (Austin) Harding of London, Ohio, and Luke Crabtree of Washington C.H.; 9 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandson; sister Suzanne “Sue” Bostick of Springfield, Ohio; sister and brother-in-law Leticia “Tish” and William Newton of Richmond, Kentucky; sister-in-law Brenda Fox of Washington C.H.; and many nieces, nephews and friends that she considered family. In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, Leroy Crabtree; her second husband Kenneth O. Hurley who became the new love of her life; sister and brother-in-law Julia Ann “Judy” and Rev. Donald Bock; brother and sister-in-law Robert G. and Patricia Fox, Jr.; brother Donald Fox; and brother-in-law Danny “Dan” Bostick. Mary didn’t want a sad funeral. Per her wishes, the family will host a Celebration of Mary’s Life, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Pleasant Grove Community Church, 5704 Edwardsville Road, Clarksville, Ohio 45113. There will be a short service with a carry-in dinner following. If able, bring a covered dish and a story about Mary to share. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the activities department at Continental Manor in Blanchester, or Queen City Hospice. Brown Funeral Home, Wilmington, is assisting the family. To leave an on-line condolence, please visit www.arehart-brown.com, or see our Facebook page, Brown Funeral Home.

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