Edward "Gene" Eugene Hurley

Edward Eugene “Gene” Hurley, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather of Sun City, AZ passed away after a two-week battle in the ICU on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the age of 83.

Gene was born on February 23, 1942 in Charleston, Missouri to the late Ernest and Gladys Hurley. He was the second youngest of nine children, and he was the only boy.

Gene certainly had an adventurous childhood, being surrounded by so many older sisters who adored him. He was often the center of attention at his father’s Irish pub while getting paid by patrons to tell jokes and stories. It was early in life that Gene learned the importance of hard work and he instilled that same work ethic in his family.

Gene moved with his family to Grand Rapids, MI, where he attended South High School. It was in Michigan he met the love of life, Margaret Ann Witheril. Gene began attending Mass with Marge and eventually decided to go through the process of becoming Catholic. Soon after graduation, the two were married and began their life as Mr. and Mrs. Hurley. Joseph joined the family on December 17, 1963, and David followed on June 24, 1972.

After enduring yet another Michigan winter of snow and cold, Gene decided it was time to move to a warmer climate. Filled with romantic images from Arizona Highways magazine of the stunning Southwest desert and mountains, the Hurley family moved to Glendale, AZ in the summer of 1977. Ready for a fresh start, Gene enrolled at Glendale Community College and began taking courses in business and accounting while working a full-time job. Not too long after that, Gene landed a position with Garrett AiResearch as a machinest. Gene worked that same position for 26 years (through company acquisitions from AiResearch, Allied-Signal and Honeywell) before retiring in 2004.

Gene’s hobbies included watching old Western movies, PGA golf tournaments and horse races, listening to classic country music, tracking Honeywell stock prices, watching and betting on greyhound races at local tracks, going to local casinos and looking to get a “hand pay” at the slot machines, and rooting on the Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns and the ASU football and baseball teams.

However, his true passion was bowling. He got his start on the sport in Michigan, but he quickly elevated his game in Arizona. He won multiple city, state, ACBA and Senior ACBA titles. He was known for his smooth, consistent and accurate game. More than that, he developed a reputation for being a gentleman on and off the lanes. Make no mistake – he was highly competitive and wanted to win every time he bowled, but he always respected his opponents and would even offer them advice if they asked. He wanted to share his love of bowling with everyone and to see the sport grow which led him to join the board of directors for both the Metro Phoenix and Arizona State associations.

Despite horrible back pain and severe scoliosis, Gene bowled competitively until the 2012-2013 league season when he finally hung up his bowling shoes at the advice of his doctor. Along the way, Gene was inducted into the Metro Phoenix USBC Hall of Fame and the Arizona State USBC Hall of Fame for Superior Performance – two of his proudest accomplishments.

Even though he couldn’t physically compete any longer, it didn’t keep Gene out of the bowling alleys. If anything, it gave him the opportunity to spend more time coaching the sport. Gene was always willing to coach anyone who needed his help. He got his start by getting his wife and sons involved in bowling. He coached youth leagues. He was there with advice to the junior bowlers at the Metro All-Stars league every Sunday. He introduced his co-workers to bowling and worked hard to help them improve their games. He coached high school bowling while his granddaughters (Annie and Katie) attended Sunrise Mountain High School, and he rooted them on during their collegiate careers at University of Alabama-Birmingham.

He was a fixture at Lakeview Lanes every Thursday at the Sun City Scratch Classic and at a number of leagues at RH Johnson and Bell Lanes. He felt it was his duty to give back to the game he loved so much. There’s a reason why so many people know him as “Coach Gene” or simply “Coach.” His impact on bowling in Arizona runs deep and his absence at future leagues and tournaments will be felt by many for years to come.

One of the kindest souls on this planet, Gene was a gentle, giving man. He worked tirelessly to ensure that his family had everything they needed. He faced every challenge in life with strength and quiet dignity. He was a fierce defender of his faith, his family and his friends. He was a true role model who we will always look up to.

Rest easy in Heaven, Gene, Papa, Coach.