Royce Eleanor Hurst, 93, of Arkansas City, KS passed away August 8, 2026 at Presbyterian Manor.

Funeral services will be held at 10 AM Wednesday August 19th, 2026 at the Arkansas City United Methodist Church. Graveside will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Tuesday August 18th at the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Ark City. Memorials in her name may be made to the Dupree Baptist Church in Vinita, OK and left in the care of the funeral home.

Royce was born on August 23, 1932 in Leavenworth, CA to parents LeRoy and Ida (Hasz) Lack. She graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1949 and on April 9, 1955 was united in marriage to the love of her life, Keith Allen Hurst. They made their home in Ark City, where she taught the 6th grade for many years before teaching in Cedar Vale. She retired from teaching but decided to start a second career working for the City of Ark City as a water plant supervisor for 12 years. Royce enjoyed gardening, canning, fishing, reading, sewing, and could do anything, like framing, plumbing and electrical, and loved traveling, she went to all lower 48 states, Canada, Mexico Guatemala, and Beliz (By car). She loved being a member of Dupree Baptist Church, and the United Methodist Church in Ark City, but most of all she loved her family.

Royce is survived by her daughter Teresa Langley (Terry) of Vinita, OK, and son Terry Hurst Sr. (Sandi) of Hampton, VA, sister Carol McNeal of Little Rock Village, AR, 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandson.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sons Leland Hurst and Loren Hurst.

Services can be viewed live at the following link.

Livestream