Joe Boyd Hurt

Lifelong farmer and rancher Joe Boyd Hurt, age 93 of Barnsdall passed away February 5, 2023. Joe was born on January 10, 1930 to Orval Bruce (O.B.) and Mirtie Ellen Hurt at their home in Barnsdall, Oklahoma. He grew up with his two brothers and five sisters working on the family farm. Joe attended Barnsdall Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1949. In the early fifties, Joe joined the Navy in 1951 where he served overseas during the Korean Conflict. He returned home in 1955 and attended Oklahoma A&M College (OSU) where he was a member of the Block and Bridle Club. He graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry while continuing to serve in the reserves.

In 1958, Joe met the love of his life, Joyce Terrill and they were married for sixty-two years.

Soon after, Joe and Joyce moved to Claremore, Oklahoma, where he worked for Purina Feed

Company for a few years before moving back to Barnsdall and acquiring a job at Bareco Wax Plant. During this time in Barnsdall, Melanie Jo was born, followed shortly after by Heather Lyn, and a few years later Greta Joyce.  

Although Joe’s full-time career was at Bareco, he was always a farmer/rancher at heart and continued to help his dad on the family farm. He was also fortunate to have a small farm while he and Joyce lived in Claremore. Later they were able to purchase Sleepy Hollow Ranch near Neloganey where he was able to put to good use all he’d learned at Oklahoma A&M. At Sleepy Hollow, he worked hard to build a herd of registered limousine cattle and was humbly proud of what he and Joyce had accomplished. Besides the cattle, Sleepy Hollow was home to chickens, rabbits, pigs, goats, horses, cats, and dogs. After retiring at Bareco, he continued doing the work he loved at Sleepy Hollow. As he got older, he realized the need to downsize, so Joe and Joyce moved back to Barnsdall where he continued to farm and ranch a small acreage of family property.

Joe was a devoted husband and father. He loved his wife, daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He taught his girls the value of hard work and responsibility through gardening, farming, and ranching. Joe loved the Lord and lived his faith daily. He loved taking pictures, small family get-togethers, and family reunions. But one of his favorite things to do was to swap chickens at the Collinsville Sale on Saturday mornings. He was often heard humming, whistling, or singing which meant all was well in his world.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Hurt, parents O.B. (Orval Bruce) and Mirtie Ellen Hurt; brothers Kenneth Hurt, Cleve Hurt, Jerl Hurt; sisters Mildred Hurt McKinney, Nellie Hurt Lemley, Hortense Hurt Dixon, VonaLee Hurt Anthony, and Pat Hurt Taylor.

He is survived by his three daughters Melanie (Steve)Jarboe of Stillwater, Heather (John) Florer of Sapulpa, Greta Hurt (Mary) of Sapulpa; grandchildren Cody (Courtni) Jarboe of Morrison, Brady (Brooke) Jarboe of Stillwater, Erin (TL) Murdock of Yukon, Mary (Sean) Tolan of Oakhurst; great-grandchildren Jake, Kate, Cole, and Noah.

Viewing will be Wednesday and Thursday, February 8 and 9, at Kendrick McCartney Johnson Funeral Home in Pawhuska.  Funeral services will be held Friday, February 10, 1:00PM, at First Baptist Church of Barnsdall.  Pastor Josh Kerr will officiate.  Interment will be in the new Ethel Reese Cemetery, Barnsdall.

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