Herrick Hurst “Kes” Kesler

Herrick Hurst Kesler passed away January 15, 2016 in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, less than three weeks after the death of his beloved wife, Alma Jean Kesler. Their 67-year commitment to each other was rare and beautiful, in a throwaway world. He was 88 years old.

Hurst, as he was known to family, was born in Marshall, IL, the son of Hal H. Kesler and Clara Hurst Kesler. He enlisted in the Navy early in 1945, at 17, and served as a signalman on the USS Cahaba (AO-82) in the South Pacific during World War II.

Upon returning home, he entered Indiana State Teachers College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1948, and where he met and married Jean Handley. Both taught for two years on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Elko County, Nevada. Later Hurst earned his master’s degree in journalism at Indiana University and was director of publications at Warren Central High School, Indianapolis. He was an exceptional man of words his entire life.

"Kes," as he was known to friends, spent most of his life in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, where he was employed by the former school yearbook company, Inter-Collegiate Press. After 25 years with ICP, he retired, and he and Jean founded their own history book publishing company, Kes-Print, Inc., a successful entrepreneurial venture that made them both very happy.

Hurst was proud of his early ancestry, three of whom served in the American Revolution: Jacob Kesler in Pennsylvania, “Mill Creek” John Hurst and Henry Hurst in Virginia. After many years of painstaking research, he published the Kesler genealogy in 1991, a copy of which is in the Terre Haute library. He served as president of the Delaware Crossing Chapter, Kansas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and as a vice president general at the national level of SAR.

Hurst is survived by son, Greg and daughter, Amy, as well as three grandchildren, Sam, Will and Bridget.

A memorial service and celebration of their lives together will be held for Hurst and Jean at Amos Family funeral home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas, on Friday, January 29 from 3-5 pm. A second service will be held on Saturday, January 30th, at the country church in Livingston, IL, where Hurst's and Jean's ashes will be buried together.