Johnnie Emil Hurliman passed away at the age of 92 on Friday, December 11, 2015. He was born July 29, 1923, in Hardee County, Florida, to Henrich and Anna Hurliman. He had six sisters and was preceded in death by Anna Kinsel, Emily Brown, Fanny Hurliman, Flora Young, and Martha Perryman. He is survived by two sisters, Meda Kyzer and Bertha Cohrt.
Johnnie met his wife, LuVenia (Newcomb) Hurliman when she was teaching school in the Avilla Community. They married April 25, 1942, and would have celebrated their 69th anniversary a few days after she died in 2011. Johnnie was a custom home builder and built a large number of homes in Saline County and neighboring areas during his career. He lived in the Avilla Community and near Benton the majority of his life.
Besides his family, Johnnie had a great love for music. When he was younger, he played the guitar and harmonica in a local band, "Country Cousins," with Virgil Fletcher, Bill Brazil, and Glen Farnsworth. His love of music kept him playing for friends and family until just the past couple of weeks. He loved to dance, especially to anything that was fast. He also loved to travel with LuVenia and his family and visit places throughout the United States.
Johnnie was a long time member of Zion Lutheran Church of Avilla, Arkansas, where he served as an elder for a number of years.
Johnnie was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, brother, and uncle to his family. He is survived by his children, Mary Ann Manning and husband, Scott, of Burleson, Texas, Linda Sue Taylor and husband, Bob, of Bauxite, Arkansas, John W. Hurliman and wife, Jan, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Nancy Heikkila and husband, Kevin, of Russellville, Arkansas. He will be greatly missed by his children, 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday, December 13th, from 6:00 to 8:00 and the memorial will be Monday, December 14th, at 2:00 p.m. Both will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Avilla.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church of Avilla or Saline Memorial Hospital Hospice House in Bryant. Arrangements provided by Dial and Dudley Funeral Home in Bryant. To sign online guest book visit www.dialanddudleyfuneralhome.com.