Paul "Duke" Edward Hurley

Paul Edward Hurley passed into eternal life March 10, 2024. Born January 18, 1934, Paul lived a purpose-driven life focused on his family and his devotion to God and God’s people.

Paul was born in Arkansas City, Kansas, but spent most of his childhood in Norco, Louisiana, where his father, Paul Edward Hurley, Sr. was manager of the Shell Oil Refinery.

 Paul attended St. Stanislaus Catholic School in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He studied engineering at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana before going to Law School at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where he was editor of the Loyola Law Review. He received a Master of Taxation from Georgetown University while he was an officer in the U.S. Navy, and returned later to teach part time at Loyola, anchoring their tax law offerings for over twenty years.

 In 1958, Paul married the love of his life, Alys Joy Lacour, to whom he was devoted until the day she died and beyond. They were married for 62 years during which they welcomed six children and 17 grandchildren.

 After serving three years in the Naval JAG Corps, Paul returned to develop a flourishing practice in estate and tax law in Louisiana, before joining T.L. James & Company as Vice President of Natural Resources.

 Paul served those in need and those often overlooked with humility and integrity. He served on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in New Orleans where he worked tirelessly to improve public education for all New Orleans students, and volunteered with Covenant House for many years. He was most passionate about his work on behalf of incarcerated people, and brought communion and counsel to inmates at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center every week for 20 years.

 Paul had a dry and indefatigable sense of humor. When he welcomed his first grandchild, he believed he was much too young to be a grandpa and insisted that his grandchildren call him Duke, after Duke Ellington, John Wayne, and the character from Doonesbury. 

 Paul loved music and literature. He was frequently moved to tears by the beauty in an aria or poem. He had many other passions: he ran marathons, earned a black belt in karate, and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his kids.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition https://www.catholicprisonministries.org/about-cpmc

 Paul’s beautiful wife, Joy, entered into eternal life in 2020 and has been waiting for him to join her. He is survived by his sister, Carol, his children, Shannon Daigle and her husband Gerald Daigle Jr., Paul Hurley III and his wife Mary Braet, Jeanne Luther and her husband Stan Luther, Stephen Hurley and his wife Patricia Hurley, Greg Hurley and his wife Mary Margaret Hurley, and Bridgett Hurley and her husband Keith Goodwin. He is also survived by his 17 grandchildren Andrew Luther, Jay Daigle, David Luther, Mary Alys Wyatt, Amelie Daigle, Paul Hurley IV, Gregory Hurley, Christian Goodwin, Joe Hurley, Jeanne Claire Daigle, Kathleen Hurley, Patrick Hurley, Alexander Hurley, Nicholas Hurley, Alys Joy Goodwin, Stephen G. Hurley and Xavier Goodwin. He was also blessed with four great grandchildren: Ella Luther, Caroline Luther, Joy Wyatt and Bennett Wyatt.

There will be a celebration of Paul’s life at Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home at 3827 Canal Street on March 15 at 10:00 AM.

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