HURST, Raymond G., age 81

Died: Wednesday, December 10th, 2025

Celebration of Life: 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Newman Catholic Parish (110 Garfield Avenue, Eau Claire) with Fr. Dan Oudenhoven officiating

Visitation: Monday, December 29, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home and conclude with a brief prayer service. There will be no visitation at church on Tuesday.

A private interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials be directed to either:
Eau Claire YMCA www.ymca-cv.org
Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra www.cvsymphony.org;
or Newman Catholic Parish www.newmanec.com 

Friends and neighbors are warmly invited to share stories, send their condolence, and honor the enduring legacy of a man who made the world better simply by being in it by using the tab to the left.

It is with deep gratitude for a well lived life that we announce the passing of Raymond G. Hurst, who left this world on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the age of 81. Surrounded by family and supported by the Eau Claire community, Ray departed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy defined by steadiness, music, fitness, and service to others.

Born April 19, 1944, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, Ray carried forward the values instilled early in life-self-sufficiency, love of family and community, and a deep appreciation for music. These values guided him through his education, leading to a degree in music education from Hamline University in 1966. He met his wife, Betty, while teaching in the Willow River MN School District, and the two married in 1969.

Ray later returned to school to learn musical instrument repair before he and Betty settled in Eau Claire in 1975. They joined the Eau Claire "Newcomers" Club and found lifelong friends as they built a family with their two sons, CJ (1975) and Tony (1977).

In 1980, Ray and Betty built their dream home on the south side of Eau Claire-an innovative, energy-efficient, partially earth-sheltered house. They took great pride in their home and garden. After 35 years, they sold the house and moved to Real Life Cooperative, a positive, socially engaged 62-and-over community in central Eau Claire. Ray served as treasurer there and had recently been re-elected before his passing.

Ray loved staying active. He enjoyed handball, pickleball, and other sports at the local YMCA and even went for exercise and camaraderie the day before he died. He valued his long-standing friendships built through fitness and took part in a University of Eau Claire program that paired student fitness instructors with seniors.

He passed on his love of physical activity to his sons and grandchildren, teaching them to stay active, enjoy a wide variety of games and sports, and appreciate healthy living.

Ray worked repairing brass and woodwind instruments until he was 70, and he also continued making music through much of his life. He played French horn in college and performed with several musical groups, including the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra from 1996 to 2009.

Ray and Betty were active in Marriage Encounter, a world-wide movement begun in Spain and introduced locally by the sisters at St. Bede's. Ecumenical Marriage Encounters continued to be held for more than 35 years. Many lasting friendships were forged as they shared stories and insights on weekend retreats designed to help couples strengthen marriages by understanding and sharing their feelings.

Ray is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty; sons, CJ and Tony (Lisa); grandchildren, Barnaby, Julian, and Meren; sister, Joy (Denny); and other family members. He is also survived by the many friendships and contributions he made within his church, fitness, and music communities. He will be deeply missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Forest and Ada (Moore) Hurst; and sister, Janet.

May Ray's memory be a blessing, and may his good work continue through all who were inspired by his life.