Obituary
It is with extreme sadness that we share the passing of Kathleen Hurley, 79, after an extended illness with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Kathleen passed away in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Kathleen was born in Ravenna, Ohio, on January 7, 1947, to Gerard M. and Nora L. (Sneddon) Hurley. She was a cherished daughter, sister and aunt, and her presence will be deeply missed by many. She formerly lived in Newton Falls, Ohio, and St. Augustine, Florida.
Kathleen attended and graduated in 1965 from Newton Falls High School. Then in 1969 she graduated Cum Laude from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Twenty years after her high school graduation, she was proud to be the keynote speaker at the Newton Falls 1986 graduation ceremony. She attended her high school reunions when possible and enjoyed remaining connected to her high school friends.
Kathleen worked in the Retail Business as a Buyer, Merchandise Manager and Vice President for many different companies in many different states – H. S. Pogue’s in Cincinnati, Ohio; Gold Circle in Columbus, Ohio; Service Merchandise in New York, New York; Heck’s in Charleston, West Virginia; Lane Bryant in Columbus, Ohio; Weathervane in Hartford, Connecticut; Rose’s in Raleigh, North Carolina; Montgomery Ward in Chicago, Illinois; Pamida in Omaha, Nebraska.
While working in New York City, Kathleen was honored with an award from the Anti-Defamation League. The award was presented to her at an event at The Plaza Hotel with then Governor Mario Cuomo in attendance. Her parents were there to witness this special honor.
Kathleen worked in these high-powered corporate jobs from 1969 – 2001. Then after 32 years in the corporate world, she bought and managed Casa de Suenos, a Bed and Breakfast Inn on the carriage route in St. Augustine, Florida. She was the ultimate hostess, welcoming guests from all over, sharing stories, serving delicious breakfasts and making everyone feel like lifelong friends. After running this charming inn for 14 years, she retired in 2015 to her beach house in Vilano Beach, Florida. Then, in 2023 she relocated to Portland, Oregon, to live near her niece, Kristine.
Kathleen had a passion for decorating. She owned beautiful homes in each of the cities where she lived. Her flair for decorating ensured that each of her homes was decorated with style and beauty, but also with comfort in mind. They were unique with the items she had accumulated in her travels. Over the years she acquired a collection of bird houses including nine made with license plates from each of the states where she had lived. She loved having her family visit often to all these homes and was so generous and kind to them.
Kathleen enjoyed traveling in our country and around the world. She lived in nine different states and traveled for pleasure with different groups of friends and family to many other states and European countries. These trips created great memories for her and others. With her job in retail, she often traveled to the markets in Asia, which included among others – Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, and China.
Kathleen found pleasure in eating out at fabulous restaurants, especially the ones in New York City and Chicago. She delighted in going to the movies, and while living in NYC she loved attending Broadway Plays.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, Gerard M. and Nora L. (Sneddon) Hurley, her aunt “other mother” Hannah Fullerton, her nephew, Doug Gartner, and many other beloved aunts and uncles. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jane and Bob Himes of Pickerington, Ohio; her niece, Kristine and Scott Thayer of Portland, Oregon; her great-niece, Riley Thayer of Seattle, Washington; her great-nephew, Clay Thayer of Eugene, Oregon; her step-niece, Sandy and Greg Jones of Fishers, Indiana; her step-nephew, Scott Himes of Groveport, Ohio; her step-great-niece, Theresa Jones of Columbus, Indiana; her step-great- niece, Kyra Jones of Orlando, Florida; and many friends.
Kathleen loved her family, and her infectious and loving spirit brightened the lives of all who knew her. She was a fiercely independent person and liked to compare herself to Mary Tyler Moore’s TV character, Mary Richards, an independent career woman. Her zest for life and her radiant smile and laugh will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Kathleen’s family would like to acknowledge the support Kathleen received from the staff at Willamette View in Portland, Oregon. The kindness and caring she and her family received during these last several years made a tremendous impact on her quality of life.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 1:00pm at St. Mary & St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 131 W Quarry Street in Newton Falls, Ohio. A celebration of life and time with the family will follow at Vinny’s of Newton Falls, 425 Ridge Rd, Newton Falls, Ohio.
Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Newton Falls Road in the family plot. Because of Kathleen’s Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) disease, Kathleen’s family welcomes donations to www.psp.org/donate or checks can be made out to CurePSP and mailed to CurePSP / 325 Hudson Street / 4th Floor / New York, NY 10013 in her memory (please include her name and a family member’s name and address with your donation).
Arrangements were handled by Omega Funeral & Cremation Services in Portland, Oregon and Boroski Memorial Home in Newton Falls, Ohio.
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