Mrs Katherine Beeson Hurst

Katherine Beeson Hurst (1942-2025) Katherine Beeson Hurst, 83, died on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. Katherine was born on January 21, 1942 in Rockford, Illinois. Her parents, Helen Merry and Harry Richey Beeson were both teachers in northern Illinois before raising Katherine and her younger brother, James, in Decatur, Illinois. Katherine’s father went on to work in the field of soil conservation and the family owned farmland in southern Illinois. Katherine graduated with her B.A. from Illinois State University in 1964. It was during her senior year of college that Katherine met her future husband, David (Dave) Hurst, at a party in Chicago. After enjoying each other’s company that night, Dave suggested keeping in touch through letters. Katherine was skeptical, given that they lived in towns several hours apart by car, but Dave persisted and won her over with his gift for expressing himself through writing. They continued a long-distance romance as they began their first jobs after college and during Dave’s Army service in Vietnam. They became engaged shortly after Dave’s return from Vietnam and married on December 30,1967. After college Katherine worked first as a high school English teacher and next at the Division of Rehabilitation, helping people with disabilities access jobs. Once married, Katherine’s primary devotion was to her family and volunteering within her community. Katherine and Dave’s daughter, Suzanne, was born in 1971. By then the family had moved to Bloomington, Illinois. Katherine was a fixture of support across Suzanne’s various activities, volunteering at her schools in a myriad of ways. Katherine also was highly active in several organizations like the League of Women Voters, the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, and St Luke Union Church. Many parishioners appreciated her contribution as a soprano in the church choir. Katherine showed her generous spirit and desire to help others by establishing some scholarships for students in Illinois in the areas of music and agriculture. After living their entire lives in Illinois, in 2008 Katherine and Dave moved to Roland Park Place, in Baltimore, Maryland, to be close to Suzanne, her husband Samuel Peters, and their sons, Joshua and Noah Peters. They became members of Roland Park Presbyterian Church and Katherine served a term leading the Residents’ Association of Roland Park Place. Katherine was known for her thoughtfulness in celebrating birthdays, holidays, and milestones in her loved ones’ lives. She loved her family dearly and took great satisfaction in keeping abreast of everyone’s activities and how her grandsons were developing from little boys into young men. Although the last few years of Katherine’s life included dealing with chronic pain and numerous health challenges, she managed to regain her stoic strength and upbeat outlook. Survivors include: a brother, James Beeson and his wife, Debbie Beeson, of Tuscola, Illinois.; a daughter, Suzanne Hurst and her husband, Samuel Peters, of Baltimore, Maryland; two grandsons, Joshua and Noah Peters, of Baltimore, Maryland; and a nephew, Scott Beeson, his wife Anne Beeson, and their son, James Domingo (JD) Beeson, of Peoria, Arizona. A memorial service and light reception will be at 3 pm on Wednesday, June 4th at Roland Park Presbyterian Church, 4801 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland.

Mrs Katherine Beeson Hurst

January 21, 1942 - May 21, 2025