Lavara (Dolly) Evelyn Hurst

Lavara Evelyn (Dolly) Hurst was born October 8, 1916 in Selmer, TN. She was the daughter of the late French Emmett and Dora Isbell Higginbottom. She died Saturday, September 6, 2014 with her daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter at her side. She was married for 75 years, 7 months and 16 days to her beloved husband, Allie. Her three daughters are Betty Barron of Sweetwater, TN, Anita Moore and Linda Barnes (Rod) all of Selmer, TN. Her grandchildren include Jennifer Houston (Mark) of Sweetwater, TN, Lisa Weatherford and Dolly Jane Barnes both of Selmer, TN. Her great grandchildren are Jay Weatherford of Selmer, TN, Leah Tompkins (Toby) of Cherokee, AL, Virginia Leigh Houston of Washington, D.C. and Ross Houston, a senior at the University of Alabama; great-great grandchildren include Lauren and Jett Franks.

Mrs. Hurst was an active and faithful member of First Christian Church for over 65 years. She served on the board of Maple Hill Nursing Home and was active in numerous school and civic organizations. She was also a staunt supporter of the Republican Party and served on the McNairy County Republican Executive committee for 57 years.

She along with Allie owned and operated a sawmill and lumber business until they started farming full-time in 1955. They were one of the first farm families in the area to grow soybeans and built the first farrowing barn in McNairy County in 1957. Together, they maintained a purebred Polled Hereford and Shorthorn operation as well as a farrow to finish swine operation. In later years, they ran a commercial beef herd. One of her greatest joys was watching her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren show prize-winning steers, heifers, market lambs, market hogs and horses throughout the state.

Mrs. Hurst was preceded in death by her husband, Allie E. Hurst on December 16, 2008; her parents; five brothers and sisters; two sons-in-law, Jerry Barron and Joe Vance Moore; one grandson-in-law, James Weatherford; and her two precious grandsons, Ross Barron (1978) and Matt Barnes (2002).

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, Selmer, Tennessee