Student Obituary – Lidia Elizabeth Hurst

Topeka, Kansas – Lidia Elizabeth Hurst, 21, of Topeka, KS passed away on July 9, 2021. She was born October 16, 1999, in Colby, KS to Jared Hurst and Tiffany (Fletcher) Hurst.

Lidia attended Rawlins County High School and received her high school diploma from the Thomas County Learning Center in 2018. She attended Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology in Wichita, KS. She was currently continuing her education by taking online courses from Central Christian College of Kansas majoring in psychology.

Dr. Jacob Kaufman, Chief Academic Officer at CCCK lamented the passing of Lidia, saying,

Our hearts go out to the Hurst family at the passing of Lidia Hurst.  CCCK faculty and staff that knew Lidia cherished their time with her. At this difficult time, we put our trust in the Lord and continue to pray for those who were closest to Lidia during this time of loss.

Lidia’s student success advisor, Courtney Mosey, stated,

When Lidia was getting ready to start her program I could tell right away she had a passion for helping others.  It was truly a privilege to have the opportunity to work with her.

Lidia loved and cherished her family and friends above all else and enjoyed spending time with them creating memories they will forever cherish. She was a stunningly beautiful and kind young lady with a contagious smile that loved to travel and made lifelong friends everywhere she went. She had an outgoing, bubbly, silly personality (cows go meep!) that had the ability to make the people around her smile.

Lidia who also went by Wiea, Squidia, Lider, and Liea, loved creating and using nicknames for those she loved such as Her Monsters (Maci and Callen, after they outgrew being called the babies), Tafferin, or Baby K (Kathryn), Guppy (Callen), Maci Moo Moo. Samiososa (Samuel). She would also often refer to her parents as Merm and Paco.

She is survived by her parents Jared and Jennifer Hurst and Tiffany (Fletcher) Hurst; her siblings, Matthew Hanzlick, Kathleen (Jeremiah) Taulborg, Samuel, Kathryn, Maci, and Callen Hurst; her grandparents, Lynda and Sylvester Hurst, Deb Smethers, Bobby, and Donna Fletcher, Don Johnson and Beth Johnson; great grandparents Ted and Gertie Kastens; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her fur baby Lucian Lokie.

She was preceded in death by her great grandparents Francis and Florine Hurst.

Visitation took place on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. The funeral service was on Friday, July 16, 2021, at the United Methodist Church, Atwood, with burial in Achilles Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Lidia Hurst Memorial, to be designated by the family later, and may be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701.

ABOUT CENTRAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF KANSAS

Central Christian College of Kansas is a regionally accredited institution offering undergraduate and graduate-level programs. Central strives to offer Christ-centered education for the whole person – heart, mind, soul, and strength. Its history dates back to 1884, and it is located in the friendly town of McPherson, Kansas. Central is a strategically small college that offers over forty areas of residential study and a thriving online program for non-traditional students. To learn more about Central go to centralchristian.edu/about. Visit the Foundation of Central Christian College to see what projects and events are coming up.