Daniel Ray Hurst

Daniel Ray "Dan" Hurst, 84, of Lake Charles died on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 in a local hospice facility. Mr. Hurst was born on July 13, 1930 and was a native of Virginia. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1964 after 20 years as a helicopter Pilot. Mr. Hurst lived in Fort Worth, TX from 1964 until 1989 when he married Pat and moved to Lake Charles. Mr. Hurst retired from ERA Helicopter/Rowan Companies, Inc. after thirteen years of flying time. They lived in Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA, and St. Louis, MO until Pat retired in 2001, when they returned to Lake Charles. Dan is admired by family, friends and past co-pilots as a man of highest values and integrity, professionalism and character worthy of emulating. He lived life to the fullest. His love of family, bass fishing and helicopter flying would be denied by none. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 24 years, Patricia Ann "Pat" Jacobs Hurst of Lake Charles; two daughters, Julie Davidson and her son, Andrew Davidson both of Lake Charles and Loretta Hurst of Dallas, TX; four sons, Alan Hurst of UAE, James Hurst of Virginia, Terry Roy and wife Joan of Dallas, TX, and Mark Roy and wife Carie of Denton, TX; two sisters Louise Hash and husband Bill of Marion, VA and Jane East of Draper, VA; three brothers, Harles (Jr.) James Hurst of Hiwassee, VA, David Hurst of Pulaski, VA, and Mike Hurst of Hiwassee, VA; fifteen grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harles James and Cora Lee Hurst; a son, Greg Roy; and a brother, Richard "Skippy" Hurst. Per Mr. Hurst's wishes, cremation was entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home and his cremated remains will be inurned at the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery at a later date.