Terry Hurley

Terry Bovard Hurley, 82, of Columbus, GA passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 3, 2024.  He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pharmacist, and member of the Columbus community.  A celebration of his life will be held 11:00 AM Friday, August 9, 2024 at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Rev. John Fugh officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, August 8, 2024 at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory. A private family only interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery.

Terry was born in Lagrange, Georgia on September 23, 1941, the first-born son of the late Clintis (“Peg”) and Bovard Hurley.  With his parents and his younger brother Wayne, Terry spent most of his childhood in Randolph County, Alabama.  There he had the good fortune to grow up surrounded by his close extended Wilson family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins he considered brothers and sisters.  He spent many happy days with his cousins in Wedowee, Alabama and especially treasured times spent at Papa’s House, the home of his grandparents Ilona and Clint Wilson.

Terry graduated from Randolph County High School in Wedowee, AL in 1959.  He attended Auburn University where he was a proud member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and worked as a soda jerk at Toomer’s Drugs.  He graduated from Auburn in 1964 with a degree in Pharmacy and began his career at Chandler’s Pharmacy in Columbus, Georgia.  There he met a lovely young schoolteacher and fellow Auburn graduate named Katherine Williams.  Terry and Kathy were married November 2, 1968 and raised two daughters Katie and Kellie in Columbus.  The family loved spending time at Lake Harding, Mexico Beach, and later Big Canoe and Sand Cliffs.

In 1976 Terry purchased Dinglewood Pharmacy after a working alongside Pharmacist Bill Wall, and he moved his young family to the Dinglewood Circle neighborhood, where they spent many happy years with their Dinglewood and Overlook neighbors.  Terry, alongside his close friend Lieutenant Stevens, Terry’s daughter Kellie, granddaughter Ashley, and countless valued employees helped the drugstore thrive, filling prescriptions, sharing advice, and feeding the Columbus community Lieutenant’s famous Scrambled Dogs for almost 50 years.  One of Terry’s proudest moments was the celebration of Dinglewood Pharmacy’s 100th birthday in 2018.

For most of his life, Terry was a caregiver – for his customers, his elderly relatives, his mother Peg, his brother Wayne who suffered a severe car accident, and most recently his wife Kathy who battled breast cancer for over 13 years.  Kathy lost her battle with cancer in 2008, and Terry remained a strong advocate for breast cancer research and treatment.

Terry was fortunate to meet Mary Shirah Snyder later in life, and the two were married December 29, 2017.  They enjoyed spending time together at Lake Harding and working in the backyard, where there was always plenty to be done.  With her kind and loving nature, Mary stood by Terry’s side through good times and bad, supporting him through several prolonged illnesses in recent years.  He valued her love and support greatly.

Never letting the truth get in the way of a good story, Terry lived a full and colorful life.  He loved his family, his friends, and his Dinglewood family and customers.  He adored his grandchildren and his great granddaughter – “the Grands,” as he called them.  He was also passionate about the family pets and buried many a dog in the backyard over the years.

Terry was a big fan of Mexico Beach sunsets, listening to Jimmy Buffet while boating on the Port St. Joe Bay, and moonlight cruises on Lake Harding with the classic tunes of the 1950’s.  He loved his travels with his granddaughter Ashley, played the piano by ear, was never afraid to trade-in or buy a new car, and was known to cut a rug on many a dance floor throughout the Southeast, including at his daughters’ weddings.  His legend lives on among the Columbus, Georgia social scene with his signature line, “Hey, how you doing, love your hair, how’s your momma ‘n’ ’em?”

Terry will be missed dearly, but his spirit and passion for life live on.  He is survived by his wife Mary, his daughters Katie Hurley Byrum (Philip), and Kellie Hurley Oliver (Joe), his stepchildren Laura Snyder, Mary Catherine Dunn (Carlton), Benjamin Snyder (Michelle), his grandchildren Ashley Dugard (Matthew Cason), May Byrum, Mason Oliver, and Charlie Byrum, step-grandchildren Benjamin Jr. and Annabelle Snyder, and great-granddaughter Cecily Cason.  Also mourning his passing are his devoted pets Tula and Willis.  He was predeceased by his parents, Peg and Bovard Hurley, and his brother Wayne Hurley.

The Family would like to thank Terry’s caregivers Freda Brundidge, Mittie Thorton, and Leatha Griffin for their love and support.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the John B. Amos Cancer Center, 1831 5th Ave, Columbus, GA 31904 or the Paws Humane Society of 4900 Milgen Rd, Columbus, GA 31907.