Mary Eleanor Hurt, a former First Lady of Montreat College, passed away on September 19, 2024, in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was 85.
Mary Eleanor was married for 65 years to William Whitfield Hurt, who served as Montreat College’s fifth president from 1991 to 2002. During their years at Montreat, Mary Eleanor embraced her role with warmth and enthusiasm. Known for her hospitality, she hosted numerous events to connect the college to the community in new and creative ways. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, her artistic touch “brought beauty to the campus with particular pride and joy in the Chapel of the Prodigal.”
An enduring example of faith, Mary Eleanor’s relationship with Christ was the foundation of her life. A remarkably gifted artist, she won a national contest through Seventeen magazine in 8th grade for her meticulously crafted doll costume of “Young Bess.” Her love for fine arts blossomed into a lifelong vocation as a professional portrait artist, capturing the essence of her subjects with remarkable skill and sensitivity.
After leaving Montreat in 2002, they moved to Knoxville. There, they built a home designed by their son, Maury. In retirement, they enjoyed taking adventurous trips around the world, which inspired her to start her own travel agency.
Mary Eleanor is survived by her husband Bill, her children Maury Whitfield Hurt (Margaret), David Bruce Hurt, and Amy Elizabeth Trainer (Fred), and her grandchildren, William, Charlie, Mary Margaret, Bela, and Whit. She is also remembered with love by her lifelong friend, Cheryl Ingle MacLeish of Orlando, and countless others whose lives she touched with her joy, beauty, and grace.
Online condolences may be shared at www.rosefuneraltn.com.