Mary Jo Hurly Fox, 91, a longtime Kalispell resident, “went home to be with the Lord” on May 16, 2016. She died of natural causes in her home at the age of 91.

She was born on March 2, 1925, the youngest of the five children of Judge John and Jeannette Hurly. Mary Jo was the last surviving Hurly sibling. Her devotion to her family and her faith guided her life decisions.

Mary Jo grew up in Glasgow and reminisced about buggy rides and ice skating with her parents and brother, Robert, closest in age to her. She graduated from Bozeman School of Nursing in 1952 and went to work as a charge nurse at the Fort Harrison VA Hospital in Helena, where she met Doug Fox in 1953. They were married in 1954. They lived briefly in Missoula and Darby before settling in Kalispell, where Doug taught biology at Flathead High School. She worked for the Flathead County Department of Health for many years.

Mary Jo left her nursing career to be a full-time homemaker and mother to their two children, Jeannie and Mark, born in 1962 and 1963. She loved family, friends, sewing, cooking and gardening. Her peonies were magnificent, and her friends were lifelong. She had a gift for storytelling that brought her memories to life. She had a wonderful contagious laugh and could give welcome and goodbye hugs to remember. Often she would express her kind nature in deeds, extending a warm welcome and a hearty meal to all she met. She was a member of Central Bible Church for many years, attending until health issues prevented it.

She was an avid reader, close follower of political news and prided herself on her garden. Her flowers were entered in Flathead County fairs and her vegetable garden was a family legend. After childhood on the Hi-Line, she loved the mild gardening weather and the crops she could produce in the Flathead. She enjoyed creating new recipes, and sewing many crafts. She possessed a keen wit and wry sense of humor. Her many diverse interests made her a lifelong learner and an “arm chair” historian.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Doug Fox, in 2009; her parents, Judge John and Jeanette Hurly; brothers, Dr. John Hurly and Robert Hurly; and sisters, Jean (Hurly) White and Marjorie (Hurly) Elfers.

She is survived by her children, Jeannie and Mark Fox of the family home, as well as numerous nieces and nephews from both the Hurly and Fox families, and many family friends.

Visitation for friends and family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on May 30 at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on May 31 at Central Bible Church.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the Hurly Family Scholarship Fund, C/O Matt Knierim, Attorney P.O. Box 29, Glasgow, MT 59230, or the health-related charity of your choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory. Please visit www.jgfuneralhome.com to sign the guestbook for Mary Jo.