Mary Ruth Hurst Hirsch was born August 20, 1926 to Calvin and Lucinda Caroline (Brinkley) Hurst in Hiwassee, Virginia, a small rural town in the southern VA Blue Ridge Mountains. She grew up as a farm girl on the banks of the New River without the comforts of indoor plumbing and electricity.
After graduating from Pulaski High School, she moved to Washington, DC for work and at the age of 20 married a U.S. Army officer. She traveled the world, including Japan and Germany. After 20 years as a “stay at home wife and mother”, she found herself single again. Upon moving to Galveston, TX in 1977, she enrolled in Galveston College at the age of 50. She earned her RN and subsequently became certified in alcohol and substance abuse nursing. She spent her entire career working in this field at St. Mary’s Hospital until it closed in 1996. She was also well known for her activism in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Over the years she became a terrific golfer, won many amateur tournaments and was the local women’s champion 2 years in a row. She loved playing bridge with her friends and was sharply competitive, even in her advanced years. Her Scrabble game was fierce. She also enjoyed swimming and was an avid reader. In her later years she excelled at being a wonderful grandmother and made it a point to visit all her “grand babies” as much as possible. She truly will be missed and remembered as a wonderful person, a good friend and loving mom.
On November 7, 2019, the good Lord took our mother home to be with Him in heaven at the age of 93. She is survived by: her son, Jeffrey Hirsch and his wife Mariana of Dickinson, TX; her daughter, Nancy Morris and husband John of Traverse City, MI; 3 grandchildren, Claire Morris Clark and husband Drew of Federal Way, WA, William Reid Morris and wife Emily Van Heukelom of Grand Rapids, MI and Lorna Hirsch of Dallas, TX; and of course her delightful 4 great grandchildren, Adelaide, Miriam, Theodore and Maren.
A visitation will begin at 10:30 am with a memorial service following at 11:30 am on Friday, December 20, 2019 at Malloy & Son Funeral Home.
Mary loved to help those less fortunate and for many years supported an organization that did cleft lip & palate repair for children in underdeveloped countries. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to SMILE TRAIN @ smiletrain.org.
Mary was a mentor to all the new golfers. She was always so kind and helpful , and she had such a pretty smile. Mary taught me how to get out of the rough. Of course, I shouldn’t have been there in the first place, but she told me what to do. I think of her every time I end up there which is pretty often. I am sure she is in heaven with Mary Garza and they are probably playing a round of golf. Mary will remain in our hearts and she will be missed. May she rest in peace.
Jeff, Nancy and families: It is with great sorrow that we cannot be with to celebrate the life of our beloved Aunt Mary Ruth. Please know that she is and will always be held in our hearts with great love and admiration. No description can describe the feelings of great loss we all feel for you and your families. Dennis, John, Nora, Rebecca and Joe, Naomi's kids...
In George H. W. Bush's inaugural address, he called for a "kinder, gentler nation." There could not have been a more kind and gentle person than Mary Hirsch. Our country is so divisive at the moment, the planet is in turmoil, yet this world is a better place because Mary Hirsch was in it. I know that I am a better person for having known and loved Mary. I will hold her in my heart forever.
She was my precious friend. It is impossible to put into one paragraph the memories of 30 years but we did not waste time. On a good week we played golf four days and Mary went on to play Bridge when we were not on the course. She was incredibly intelligent and had the ability to see people for all of their good qualities. People from all ages around Galveston County held her in high regard and were so proud to call her friend. She is missed.
I had the pleasure of working with Mary at St Mary's hospital back in the early 90's until they closed. She was a very sweet lady and a great nurse. Rest in paradise. ♥️♥️♥️
Dear Mary, It was our pleasure to meet you during your visits to Traverse City at John and Nancy’s house.I enjoyed our conversations about your childhood in Virginia where my Dad also grew up! We Loved our time with you last summer when we took our Granddaughter over to enjoy some of that delicious Moomers Ice Cream on the deck with you, John and Nancy! May you Rest In Peace in Gods Heavenly Home.
Mary, I enjoyed every scrabble game with you when you visited your daughter, Nancy, in Traverse City, Michigan. I looked forward to those visits even though I knew you would have no mercy and beat me every time! However, your kindness and sweet smile and attitude were irresistible! You were patient with me and I will always remember how you loved to use those "two letter" words from the Scrabble dictionary. We spent many hours at Nancy's dining room table giggling at some of the attempts to create words to fit. You will be so missed.....thank you for allowing me to be part of your life. May you rest in peace, dear Mary. Love you, Linda P.S. I challenge you and my mother to a scrabble game when I get to Heaven so we will see who is the real champion!
My sincere condolences to all the family of Mary Ruth. Having grown up, myself, in Pulaski, VA.....I remember her well. My grandmother, Phoebe Brinkley Nelson, was a sister to her mother and I recall many family visits in early years. May she be blessed in peace and you with loving memories of her. Nancy Goodfellow in Roanoke, VA
TO THE FAMILY OF MARY RUTH HURST HIRSCH THIS IS BYRON CADELL MCPEAK, HER BELOVED NEPHEW WHOES FIRST MEMORY OF AUNT MARY WAS WHEN I WAS 3 YEARS OLD. SHE BOUGHT ME A GREAT BIG TEDDY BEAR FOR CHRISTMAS. HER HUGS AND KISSES' OVER ALL THOSE LONG YEARS "SHALL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN". MY SINCERE CONDOLENCE TO HER SON JEFFRY, HER DAUGHTER NANCY AND ALL THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN. YOUR MOTHER SHALL BE GREATLY MISSED BUT WILL BE REMEMBERED BY ME UNTIL I JOIN HER SOMEDAY AND ALL OUR PEOPLE. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. BYRON C. MCPEAK, PO BOX 825 PULASKI VA. 24301
Date: Friday, December 20, 2019
Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Date: Friday, December 20, 2019
Time: 11:30 am
December 7, 1920
October 17, 2018
February 18, 2018
August 18, 2019
Our thoughts remain with you and your family. We are honored by the trust and confidence you have placed in us during this difficult time.
—The Staff of Malloy Funerals & Cremations
Mary was a mentor to all the new golfers. She was always so kind and helpful , and she had such a pretty smile. Mary taught me how to get out of the rough. Of course, I shouldn’t have been there in the first place, but she told me what to do. I think of her every time I end up there which is pretty often. I am sure she is in heaven with Mary Garza and they are probably playing a round of golf. Mary will remain in our hearts and she will be missed. May she rest in peace.
Jeff, Nancy and families: It is with great sorrow that we cannot be with to celebrate the life of our beloved Aunt Mary Ruth. Please know that she is and will always be held in our hearts with great love and admiration. No description can describe the feelings of great loss we all feel for you and your families. Dennis, John, Nora, Rebecca and Joe, Naomi's kids...
In George H. W. Bush's inaugural address, he called for a "kinder, gentler nation." There could not have been a more kind and gentle person than Mary Hirsch. Our country is so divisive at the moment, the planet is in turmoil, yet this world is a better place because Mary Hirsch was in it. I know that I am a better person for having known and loved Mary. I will hold her in my heart forever.
She was my precious friend. It is impossible to put into one paragraph the memories of 30 years but we did not waste time. On a good week we played golf four days and Mary went on to play Bridge when we were not on the course. She was incredibly intelligent and had the ability to see people for all of their good qualities. People from all ages around Galveston County held her in high regard and were so proud to call her friend. She is missed.
I had the pleasure of working with Mary at St Mary's hospital back in the early 90's until they closed. She was a very sweet lady and a great nurse. Rest in paradise. ♥️♥️♥️
Dear Mary, It was our pleasure to meet you during your visits to Traverse City at John and Nancy’s house.I enjoyed our conversations about your childhood in Virginia where my Dad also grew up! We Loved our time with you last summer when we took our Granddaughter over to enjoy some of that delicious Moomers Ice Cream on the deck with you, John and Nancy! May you Rest In Peace in Gods Heavenly Home.
Mary, I enjoyed every scrabble game with you when you visited your daughter, Nancy, in Traverse City, Michigan. I looked forward to those visits even though I knew you would have no mercy and beat me every time! However, your kindness and sweet smile and attitude were irresistible! You were patient with me and I will always remember how you loved to use those "two letter" words from the Scrabble dictionary. We spent many hours at Nancy's dining room table giggling at some of the attempts to create words to fit. You will be so missed.....thank you for allowing me to be part of your life. May you rest in peace, dear Mary. Love you, Linda P.S. I challenge you and my mother to a scrabble game when I get to Heaven so we will see who is the real champion!
My sincere condolences to all the family of Mary Ruth. Having grown up, myself, in Pulaski, VA.....I remember her well. My grandmother, Phoebe Brinkley Nelson, was a sister to her mother and I recall many family visits in early years. May she be blessed in peace and you with loving memories of her. Nancy Goodfellow in Roanoke, VA
TO THE FAMILY OF MARY RUTH HURST HIRSCH THIS IS BYRON CADELL MCPEAK, HER BELOVED NEPHEW WHOES FIRST MEMORY OF AUNT MARY WAS WHEN I WAS 3 YEARS OLD. SHE BOUGHT ME A GREAT BIG TEDDY BEAR FOR CHRISTMAS. HER HUGS AND KISSES' OVER ALL THOSE LONG YEARS "SHALL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN". MY SINCERE CONDOLENCE TO HER SON JEFFRY, HER DAUGHTER NANCY AND ALL THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN. YOUR MOTHER SHALL BE GREATLY MISSED BUT WILL BE REMEMBERED BY ME UNTIL I JOIN HER SOMEDAY AND ALL OUR PEOPLE. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. BYRON C. MCPEAK, PO BOX 825 PULASKI VA. 24301
Malloy Funerals & Cremations
Our thoughts remain with you and your family. We are honored by the trust and confidence you have placed in us during this difficult time.
—The Staff of Malloy Funerals & Cremations