Josephine (Miller) Hurley

Josephine Miller Hurley passed away Friday, December 8, 2023 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem.  She was born in Ashe County on November 10, 1941 to the late Monroe and Hazel Eldreth Miller of Jefferson.  Her late paternal grandparents were, Jerome and Naomi Davis Miller and her late maternal grandparents were, John and Ellen Sexton Eldreth.

Josephine is survived by her husband of nearly 63 years, Skyline Retiree, Bill Lee Hurley of Jefferson, and their two sons, William Mitchell Hurley and his wife, Sandra Goss Hurley of Mt. Airy, and Christopher Lee Hurley of Jefferson.  Josephine is also survived by their two grandsons, Holden Paul Hurley and Wesley Scott Hurley of Mt. Airy.

Josephine is survived by one brother, Jack R. Miller and his wife, Judy Walton Miller of Jefferson as well as two sisters, Wanda Jean Miller Kilby of Winston Salem, and Sue Ann Miller Hardin of West Jefferson.  Josephine is survived by several nephews, Billy Jean Kilby, Jeffery Lee Miller, David Mike Ball, James Miller, and Mark Hardin, Jr., several nieces, Sandy Kilby Reynolds, Teresa Hardin Richardson, Cherie Lambert Baldwin, Elizabeth Miller, Debra Hardin Welch, Debbie Kliby Baker and Kelly Miller Price.  She is also survived by sister-in-laws, Barbara Hardin Miller, Janet Hurley Blevins, Joann Hurley Howell, brother in-law, David Ball, and nephews by marriage, Joe Blevins and Danny Howell and a niece by marriage, Donna Howell Lyons, special cousins by marriage, Larry Harsh and wife, Trudy Hash as well as several great nephews and nieces.

Josephine was preceded in death by her youngest sister, Betty Fay Miller Lambert,  father, Monroe Miller, mother, Hazel Eldreth Miller and brother Clarence Edward Miller, sister, Linda Lee Miller Ball, father-in-law, Willie Hurley, mother-in-law, Wilba Hurley, brother-in-laws, Earl Dean Howell, Roby (Bill) Kilby, David Blevins, Willam (Mark) Hardin, and Tommy Lambert.  She was preceded in death by two nephews by marriage and one niece by marriage.

Josephine graduated from Ashe Central High School Class of 1960 and later on she attended Wilkes Community College.  After high school Josephine worked for Hanes, Sprague Electric, and later on in the 1990's she worked for The Jefferson Times and she eventually served as a sales agent and bookkeeper for her husband's business.  During her life she loved her family, children, pets, cooking and her photography.  At family gatherings, Josephine was always seen with her favorite Canon camera loaded with the best Kodak film trying to capture the special moments.  She was an avid reader and she loved to read her Bible, the Reader's Digest, People's Magazine and newspapers.  She loved to prepare large meals, especially during the holidays, and she also loved taking long daily walks with her beloved Chow dog, the late Teddy.  In the evenings over dinner, she liked to watch The Andy Griffith Show and Gun Smoke.

Josephine was a good Christian woman who strongly believed in the Lord and was very devoted to her husband and to their family.  She loved their home life in Jefferson on the land that she was raised on near her parent's tobacco farm with good neighbors close by.  She was proud of her husband Bill, a US Navy Veteran who served overseas during the Korean War and who later served as the Engineer of Skyline Telephone.  She was especially proud of her two sons, William who is a high school soccer coach and the owner of Mount Pilot Antiques; and Christopher, who attended ASU, served in the US Army National Guard, and is the owner of Hurley Marketing, LLC and is the Director of Security for Jefferson Landing.

The Pallbearers will include members of her family and family friends, Jeff Miller, David Mike Ball, Jr., Mark Hardin, Jr., Larry Hash, Roger Barker and Bill Burkett.

Funeral services will be held at Ashelawn Memorial Chapel on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 2:00 pm with Pastors, Carl Witherspoon, Joe Riley Blevins, and Ken Jones officiating, and Josephine's son Christopher delivering the eulogy. Burial will follow at Jefferson City Cemetery next to her beloved grandmother, Naomi Davis Miller. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm prior to the service at Ashelawn.