Chester Jack Hurley, a World War II veteran and well-traveled sailor, settled in Miramar during the city’s early days and considered his life there one of his biggest adventures.
“We were there in the very beginning, and it was such a wonderful experience to live in a new town,” said Marge Hurley, his ex-wife. “Jack loved being there for that.”
Mr. Hurley died Tuesday in Stuart of pneumonia. He was 83.
Mr. Hurley served in the Navy’s amphibious forces during World War II, where he saw action in some of the war’s biggest battles, including D-Day and Okinawa.
Originally from New Jersey, he moved his family to Miramar in 1957 at a time when the town was “little more than grazing fields for cows,” Marge Hurley said.
Though Mr. Hurley worked as a building contractor, his family said his passion was volunteering for the city’s fire and police departments.
“There weren’t enough men back then, so Jack would be involved in everything. Sometimes he’d be in a hurry and I wouldn’t know whether to iron his police or fireman shirt,” Marge Hurley said.
Through his company, Sea Kove Construction, Mr. Hurley was involved in building most of the original houses in the area west of the Turnpike, said his daughter, Bonnie Barnes. He also helped build a firehouse on Venetian Street.
Mr. Hurley’s other passion was sailing. He enjoyed building boats and often traveled to such places as the Caribbean and Thailand.
“He loved the ocean. Just being out on a boat with someone else out in the water made him happy,” Marge Hurley said.
Mr. Hurley’s sailing days came to an end a decade ago after a stroke left him weak and often out of breath. Soon after, he moved from the west coast of Florida to Stuart to be near his children.
“He was active, always wanted to do something, and he did — he helped build a city,” Mrs. Barnes said.
Besides daughter Bonnie Barnes, Mr. Hurley is survived by two other children, Arthur Hurley and Nancy Montgomery, and a grandchild, Arianna Montgomery.
Mr. Hurley had requested that no services take place after his death. The Aycock Funeral Home in Stuart will be in charge of the cremation and his ashes will be taken to the ocean.
Joel Marino can be reached at .
