Services for James W. Hurtt will be held at Clary Funeral Home in Thayer Tuesday August 12th at 10:00 a.m. and a visitation will be held on Monday from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
James William Hurtt (JW) was born July 5, 1947, to James Cecil and Mary Emma Curry Hurtt at his home in Thayer Missouri. He met the love of his life, Elizabeth Vaughn in 1964 when he was just 16 and she was 14.
JW proudly served his country, going into the army on August 9th, 1966. On December 27, 1966, he was deployed to Vietnam only to return home a year later in December of 1967.
On March 12, 1968, he and Elizabeth were married and on March 22nd, 1974, the happy couple would welcome their son, James William Hurtt II into the world.
JW managed a series of different grocery stores beginning in 1971 and extending through 1990 with the final store he managed being Town and Country in his hometown of Thayer Missouri.
After leaving the grocery store business, the remainder of his working years was spent in Auto Parts.
In his free time, JW enjoyed bird hunting, bowling, golfing, fishing, and most of all, music. He created a family band with his son James and Elizabeth and True Country was born. Over the years they played with many musicians, bringing joy to the town and surrounding communities.
In June of 2002 he welcomed his daughter-in-law, Rebecca Tackitt, into his family with, open arms.
On September 29th 2004, his world got a lot bigger when his first grandson was born. Dillyn James became the center of his and Elizabeth’s universe. He would often comment as he stared down at Dillyn, “Boy it just doesn’t get better than this. Look, he’s already trying to talk to me.”
Little did he know, on September 21st, 2010, they would welcome their second grandson, Traben Michael, and JW’s heart just grew that much more. Jw loved his grandsons with everything he had and was the living embodiment of a loving and doting grandfather, father, and husband.
June 8, 2024, he welcomed Chloe Thompson into the family as granddaughter in law, married to Dillyn. He finally got his granddaughter when June Elizabeth Carter Hurtt made her grand entrance into the world on May 2nd 2025.
JW is survived by his wife Elizabeth, of Thayer; his son James and wife Rebecca of Thayer; Grandsons; Dillyn (Chloe) and Traben of Thayer. He had one beautifully perfect great-granddaughter, June Elizabeth Carter Hurtt. He is also survived by his sisters Silvia Childers and Yvonne Cagle, both of Thayer; Brother-in-law Everett Vaughn of Grove Oklahoma and sister-in-law Dee Vincent of Booneville Missouri, as well as countless nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
JW was proceeded in death by both parents, his step-father Elmer Riggs, brothers in law JD Childers, Lonnie Cagle; Mother and father in-law Ernest and Marie Vaughn; Brother in law Joe Vincent, sisters in law Corina Vaughn and Lella Vaughn.
JW, a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Thayer Missouri, was a God-fearing man who took comfort in knowing where he was going when it was his time, He left an impact on everyone he met and never met a stranger. To know him, was to love him. While he may be gone from this earth, he left a legacy behind that ensures he will never be forgotten!
