Miriam Davis Hurley

Beloved by many, Miriam Davis Hurley transitioned from this life to the next on May 28, 2014, in Astoria, OR. She was born September 15, 1925, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Cecelia Jones and Wilford Davis.
As a young woman in the 1940s, she moved to Berkeley, CA, where she attended the University of California and married Richard Alexander Hurley in 1946. They raised their family of three children in the San Francisco Bay area.
Miriam was a social worker in Oakland, working with families and at-risk youth. She was a community activist in Oakland, and was especially proud of her work with the MacArthur Coalition, which worked to reverse urban decay on and around MacArthur Boulevard. She was presented a special award of appreciation for her community work by the mayor and city council of Oakland when she moved to Davis, CA, in 1994. She was active in peace efforts during the Vietnam era, and did her part for preservation of the environment by shopping thrift stores and conducting an environmental fundraising project in which she sewed and sold reusable shopping bags. She continued her community activism in Davis and in Astoria, where she particularly enjoyed attending city council meetings and following local politics.
She enjoyed her family and friends, reading, theatre and music, the Astoria Senior Center, a good conversation, and her guinea pig, Ebba.
Miriam had a keen interest in spirituality. She was an active member of the Unitarian Church and a student of religions, particularly creation spirituality, which she studied with Matthew Fox and Brian Swimme. She organized an Institute of Noetic Sciences group in Davis, CA. Her favorite sayings included, “The universe loves diversity” and “It’s not either/or, but and, and, and.” She was a beloved friend and mentor to many people.
Miriam is survived by her daughter, Celia Davis and son and daughter-in-law, Richard C. and Rosetta Hurley of Astoria; daughter, Donna Ray of Walnut Creek, CA; grandson Tom Salinaro and his wife, Isabel Navarro of Oakland, Ca; granddaughters Jessica Hurley of Alameda, CA and Miriam Hurley of Florence, Italy, and Laura Simpson and her husband John of London, England; grandson Dan Ray and his wife Corina of Davis, CA; Meredith Metz and her husband, Michael of Pleasant Hill, CA; grandson Gabe White and his wife Erin of Portland, OR; foster daughter, Carole Curtis of San Diego, CA; great-grandchildren, Esme, Grace, Lucy, Morgan, Ana Sofia, Chris; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her husband, Dick and her two brothers and sister preceded her in death.
By Miriam’s wish, there will be no memorial service. Memorial donations may be made to any charity of choice that benefits children.