Dr. Charles Raymond Hurt, passed into glory on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at home, in Big Rapids, with his beloved family at his side. He was born on June 27, 1932 to George and Lula Frances (Dortch) Hurt Sr. in Memphis, TN. In 1950 he graduated from Melrose High School, in Memphis. He graduated from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee with a B.S. and M.S., in Organic Chemistry. He later pursued his PhD in Organic, Chemistry from Howard University in 1963. Charles married Geraldine M. Lee on August 19, 1955 in New Smyrna Beach, FL. From their union four children were born. He was a devoted husband and dearly loved his wife, children and grandchildren. In 1955-1957 Charles was a Specialist 4th Class US Army Medical Corps; he was honorably discharged and primarily assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. He was a Research Chemist, Arthritic and Metabolic Diseases Branch, NIH.; Research Chemist, Godard Space Flight Center, NASA, Greenbelt, MD. Charles loved to serve, and was very active in his church, and enjoyed singing in the choir. He was a committed and faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Big Rapids for over 33 years. He volunteered at the Mana Food Pantry, helped at Our Brothers Keeper, was a bell ringer for Salvation Army, supported Habitat for Humanity and for numerous years, he was a scout leader, instructor for leaders, and sat on the Council for Boy Scouts of America as an active volunteer/council Board member at large and Big Rapids Board of Education multicultural advisor. He was employed at Ferris State University for 34 years. He was a finalist for the Distinguished Teacher Award, Michigan Association of Governing Boards (MAGB) Distinguished Faculty, Minority Faculty and Staff Outstanding Colleague Award and received the Provost Award for Excellence. He was a member of the Michigan College Teachers Association, Phi Delta Kappa (Education), Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership) National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers and Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering. He served on numerous committees and was involved with student organizations; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, Wesley Foundation Board member; Ferris State Gospel Choir (Advisor), NAACP Faculty Advisor and Member. He retired from Ferris in August of 1997 as a Professor of Organic Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences. After his retirement, he was very active with the FSU Emeriti Association, serving as a tutor and on the Emeriti Association Executive Board from 2002-2012. He leaves to cherish his memory three daughters, Karla (Brett) Kinney of Romulus, Michigan; Mirabahn (Muhammad) Cairob of Hampton, Georgia; Judith (Dan) Feutz of Redford Township, MI; one son, Charles (Jo Ellen) Hurt, Jr.; ten grandchildren: Tariq, David, Daniel, Kazdin, Charles, Afsaneh, Derek, Elizabeth, Kelsey and Joshua; a great granddaughter: Lyrique Seriah Cairob; two brothers, Frank (Saphronia) Hurt and Maurice (Jean) Hurt of Memphis, TN; a surrogate daughter, Gloria (Jessie) Barnett of Muskegon, MI; nephews, nieces, cousins, special friends, and his cherished church family. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, George and Frances; his wife, Geraldine and one brother, George (Ernestine) Hurt. In lieu of flowers memorial Contributions can be made to Manna Pantry, American Cancer Society, Hospice of Michigan, Immanuel Lutheran Church of Big Rapids, Robert F. Williams Scholarship Fund at FSU (music and arts), and Habitat for Humanity. Homegoing Funeral Services will take place 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 27th at the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Big Rapids with Pastor Peggy Rose officiating. The family will greet friends 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids and two hours prior to the service from 11:00-1:00 p.m. on Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Big Rapids. Share a memory or sign the guestbook online at www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com The family will greet friends Thursday, January 26, 2017 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home 13985 Northland Drive Big Rapids,MI 49307