LOVELL — On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, Ethel Gilmore Hurst, 91, passed away peacefully.

Ethel was born on Staten Island, N.Y. on March 21, 1932, but grew up in Canton, Mass., where she later met her husband, Allan Hurst of Dedham, Mass., who predeceased her in 2004. They built a home in Canton, Mass., to raise their four children and stayed there for 30 years. The family would often spend their summers camping in sites that were close to Big Al’s work, leaving them with many wonderful family memories.

While living in Canton, Ethel organized the first women’s softball league in the town. She worked for Beckham Travel Agency for many years taking tours all over New England. Traveling was something Ethel loved to do. She traveled to many places in the United States, as well as several places overseas. Through the use of family trees, she was able to meet relatives of hers in England and visited with them several times.

Upon moving to Lovell, Ethel became a longtime columnist for two local papers, the Conway Daily Sun and The Bridgton News. She was known as the “news girl around town.” She was also instrumental in the renovation and addition project for the Lovell Library. She took up golf while in Maine and liked it so much she joined a league. However, cribbage was Ethel’s very favorite pastime. Anyone visiting Ethel was always asked the question, “do you know how to play cribbage?” and if the answer was “yes,” the board was out in a flash. Ethel loved her life in Maine and all the wonderful people she got to know over the years. 

Ethel is survived by her four children, Allan Hurst Jr., and wife Beth, Douglas Hurst and wife Sheryl, Betty Joe Arbogast and husband Kevin, and Robin Jensen, along with 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Old Saco Inn main lodge, 125 Old Saco Lane, Fryeburg, ME 04033 on June 15, 2024 from 1 to 3 p.m. Close friends who would like to attend please RSVP to Douglas Hurst by e-mail to hotrod4343@yahoo.com by June 7, 2024.

If you would like to make a donation in Ethel’s memory, it can be made to the Salvation Army.