Billy James Hurst, Sr.

Billy James Hurst, Sr., age 95, of Gulf Breeze, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2023 in his home.  He was born in Norphlet, Arkansas to C.O. and Inez Fussell Hurst on 4/1/1928.  He had a sister, Patsy and a brother, Charles that has proceeded him in death.  During his high school years at Pine Tree High School, he excelled in all sports.  He attended Kilgore college and joined the Army Air Corp to begin training as a pilot.  He flew B-29 and General Curtis Le May in World War II.  He flew many times to Germany and all over the world.  Once he concluded his military service he went back to college at North Texas College and received a degree of Business in 1950 and went to work in the oil and gas industry.  He worked for H.L. Hunt and then joined N L Industries Baroid Division.  After a long and productive career in drilling fluid sales, he retired from Baroid Drilling Fluids as Vice President.

He married Jo Delle Horne and divorced in 1973.  He married Linda Darlene McWethy in 1982. We lived in Colorado and Arkansas and had 41 years together.  We loved traveling and golf.  After retiring from Baroid he started a poultry operation.  He raised and sold chickens (he had 5 barns with 22,000 chickens in each) for nine successful years before finally retiring to Gulf Breeze, Fl so he could enjoy playing golf at Tiger Point with 2 courses.  Billy is survived by his wife Linda Darlene Hurst of Gulf Breeze, Fl; step-daughter Cristy Lee McWethy of Suffolk, VA; Billy James Hurst Jr. of Abita Springs, LA; and daughter Linda Gayle Pennington of Frisco, TX; 5 grandchildren and 9 Great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 10:30-11:00 AM on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Rose Lawn Funeral Home.  A Celebration of Life Service will begin immediately following the visitation at 11:00 AM at the funeral home.  At the end of his life, he could look back as being successful in business and sports ventures, but more that that a fabulous husband and father.  He will truly be missed.