Virgil Ward Hurley

A Graveside memorial service for Virgil Ward Hurley, 85, will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the Riverview Cemetery in Worland, Wyoming with military rites accorded by the American Legion Post #44. He passed away on June 11, 2016 in at the Worland Health Care Center Worland, Wyoming surrounded by his family.

Virgil was born April 19, 1931 in Cushing, Oklahoma, son of Ben Ward and Emma Lee (Whitten) Hurley. As a 3 month old baby, he traveled in a Model T with his family to Riverton, Wyoming to find jobs for his dad and brothers. This was a very difficult time for many due to the Great Depression.

During World War II, he began a life long career driving semi-trucks in order to help his family out financially. Virgil was 12 years old at the time.

On May 5, 1948, Virgil proudly enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed in Coronado, California. He served during the Korean Conflict. While in the service he was able to travel to Alaska, Japan and Korea. He was always glad to share his Navy stories to anyone willing to listen. Virgil was Honorably Discharged while in San Diego, CA on April 15, 1952. After service, Virgil moved back to Riverton to work for White Ditching Company, doing pipeline service work for the gas company. In 1954, he began driving truck for Haines Trucking in Worland and remained there until 1958. Throughout his trucking career, Virgil drove for Dee's Trucking, Blue Plain Trucking (owned by Sid Crawford), Admiral Transport, and for Neuman Transit in Rawlins, Wyoming until retirement.

While having supper at Hotel Washakie he became smitten with a waitress named Mary Lou (Padgett) Nissen. On December 29, 1962, the couple married in Worland, Wyoming.

His family says that he liked to watch old westerns on t.v., traveling, telling the same old jokes to his grandkids and spoiling his great grandkids. Any visit to Grandpa and Grandma's house always involved Grandma's good cookin' and a game of cards.

Survivors include his daughter, Connie and her husband, Scott Thompson of Grand Junction, CO; sons, Randy Nissen and his wife, Lori of Worland, Mike Nissen of Worland and Terry Nissen and his wife, Colleen of Worland; grandchildren, Traci Yorgason, Adam Thompson, Lori Van Vleet, Stacey Paulson, Coby Nissen, Amy Munoz, Annie Nissen, Skyler Thompson, Adam Nissen, Chris Harnden, Tyler Harnden, Trevor Nissen and Tatum Nissen; 23 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary Lou in 2007, brothers, Oscar, Amos, Dick, Archie, Art and Ben Hurley; sisters, Ruth Bray, Margaret Masten, and Rowena DeBolt; great granddaughters, Halli and Hunter Yorgason in 2001.