Carlene Rose Hurley

Carlene Rose Conrad Hurley was born at home in an old house in Roseburg Oregon on June 4,1940. Franklin D Roosevelt was president for 3 terms during this time of the great depression and World War II. 

Her dad was excused from going to war as he had a hernia so he served by working in the health and welfare office. 

Later on, her dad worked at the Roseburg Lumber Mill. Her parents Clifford and Merle Conrad and her older brother Delroy lived in a little house at 713 W. Union St. in Roseburg Oregon, while her dad single handedly built an entire full basement and a 2-story home just next door on the same property. Building their new house took several years as her dad used his paychecks each week to buy the needed construction supplies. They built the entire house without borrowing a dime.

Carlene was 10 years old at the time they moved into the new house. She used a stack of plywood as her bed at the time. Her parents remained in this house for over 60 years. 

Carlene’s mom was an amazing cook and she was able to take any recipe and tweak it into perfection. She would often sell her amazing lemon meringue pies, banana pies, cookies, maple bars, divinity and other treats to make extra income. 

Carlene enjoyed traveling by train from Roseburg to Ashland to visit her grandma who lived to be105 years old. Carlene suffered from motion sickness so she would sleep during the trips and be awakened by the train whistle at the end of the ride. 

One day, when Carlene was 14 years old her family was on a picnic out of town. Her brother was learning to drive their stick shift jeep and decided to practice his new driving skills that day. Carlene so excitedly jumped on to the side bumper of the jeep for a ride. Her brother accidently slipped the clutch throwing Carlene to the ground and the jeep ran over her. The Jeep went over her legs and up her entire body, but by some miracle the wheels missed her head! Her dad was fishing nearby. He let go of his fishing pole, dropping it into the river and rushed Carlene two hours to the nearest hospital. It was Labor Day Weekend and upon arrival they discovered that the Dr on call who set her leg had been drinking. She wore a cast from her toe to her hip for almost four months. During that time, she had grown to be 5 foot 10 inches tall but her leg had shriveled up. She had to learn to walk again. For the rest of her life, she dealt with one leg being an inch shorter than the other. 

It was 1958! Elvis was famous! Carlene enjoyed high school especially in her hoop skirts. The girl’s worked hard to put as many slips under their dresses. Starching them so much that their skirts would stand straight out! The girls were disappointed when the school limited them to 4 slips. 

Carlene graduated from Roseburg High School where she had excelled in bookkeeping and office work. She became fluent in shorthand. (think texting abbreviations). This made her a valuable asset for taking notes in meetings and drafting business letters. 

She found a good job putting her skills to work in an office. She worked hard and saved her money. She purchased a brand new 1958 Fiat 500 in baby blue with a ragtop sunroof with her cash! They still make a similar car today. You may know it as a Fiat smart car. 

After graduation, Carlene’s aunt Loney invited her to go on a trip to visit her uncle who was in the service. She was so excited because this was the first time she was able to stay in a hotel! 

One night while on the trip they looked for something to do. They heard about a tent revival in nearby Lotten, Oklahoma. They walked 2 1/2 miles. Carlene’s life was forever changed when she heard about Jesus!! This was much to the excitement of her Grandpa Massey who had been praying for her that very night! 

After the trip she returned to Roseburg and found a good church. One Sunday while attending church a handsome soldier named Norman Hurley asked her out! They dated for 5 months and were married 12/31/1959. They honeymooned on the Oregon coast where they paid $5.00 for their hotel room. 

Their marriage was blessed with a son Glynn followed by Star. 

They then moved to Rock Island, IL so Norman could attend Bible college. It was during this year that they were blessed with another baby girl named Twila. 

After Bible college they looked for the very best Christian school that they could find and set their sights on Boise ID. They sold their home and with their little bit of equity they found an old meat truck. Norman scrubbed and power washed it clean. The truck had 2 doors and one bench seat. Everyone piled in with one person sitting on a crate on the floor for the 3-day journey to Boise. Upon arriving in Boise, they sold the truck and put the money down on an old house in the north end that was built in 1905. The home which originally was a small old neighborhood store cost $ 7000.00. The payments were almost out of reach at $ 65.00 per mo. The bank loaned them the money on a handshake. 

Carlene’s ultimate desire her entire life was to be a wife and homemaker for her three children. She always made things from scratch. She faithfully packed her husband’s big metal lunch box every day for 27 years. 

She was also the church treasure and helped out in the school office occasionally. 

When she was 48 yrs old Norman suddenly passed away. She then worked 10 years for the Medicare office in Boise. 

Her joy during this time was her grandchildren. She could be found cooking, sewing and having fun with them. 

In 2019 she was blessed to go on a trip to the ocean with her 3 kids that will never be forgotten! 

In 2005 she sold the house in the north end and moved to Meridian where she lived independently until she became ill just 6 weeks before passing. 

Carlene was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, brother. spouse Norman. her son Glynn, granddaughter and her great granddaughter. She is survived by her 2 daughters and their husbands, 11 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandson.

Tribute to My Mother By Star Thomas

If you looked up the word " faithful" in the dictionary, I’m pretty sure that my mom Carlene Hurley's name would be listed there, as an example.

You could always count on her! She loved to take care of her family. My mom packed my dad's lunch every day for 27 years. Dinner was on the table when he walked in faithfully every day! Keeping the laundry washed and the house clean was no easy task but she faithfully did an excellent job!

My mom's job was to help my dad by making his paychecks stretch as far as possible. We never ate out.

My mom had an accountant's mind. She was organized and on schedule. A place for everything and everything in its place.

Mom loved to sew! She made clothes for me. My dad worked hard but finances were tough. One year for Christmas my mom made clothes and pajamas for me with a matching set for my barbie doll!

On Saturday nights My dad would take all 3 of us kids to play basketball. My mom loved those quiet times where she would find a good book and curl up on the couch. Mom also loved reading the Bible and her goal was to read it through each year.

Mom loved dogs and she always had one! One black lab was named Bingo. The grand kids affectionately called her Grandma Bingo.

It was such a pleasure to have her live in meridian near me the last 20 years where I could stop by often.

Her biggest joy was her grandkids. She loved when they would come to visit.

Mom loved to talk on the phone. She was always a good listener and would offer up some good advice when you were finished.

She especially enjoyed talking on the phone with Glynn as he drove truck across the United States.

Faithfully each day she prayed for each of her family members and friends. Even on her final day it was crucial that someone pick up her prayer list.

Mom never expected the spotlight. She was content to humbly serve in the background doing those things that needed to be done every day.

May we live our lives so that we too may hear: "Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."