John Hurst, 88, died peacefully on March 19, 2015 at his home in Boothbay Harbor.

Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, Hurst earned a degree in botany from Montana State University in 1949. He loved reading, fishing, world history, politics and walking dogs to town.

In 1951 he began his life-long career at Maine Dept. of Sea & Shore Fisheries (now DMR) where he worked for 53 years, developing the monitoring system for PSP (Red Tide). He was especially proud that there were no cases of PSP in the state of Maine as a result of commercially harvested shellfish while he was on the job. He was always at the ready with “lab” stories to tell.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons, John and his wife Janice of Hallandale, Florida and Peter of Sawyer's Island; daughter, Lucy Barter and husband Greg; grandsons, David Barter of Boothbay Harbor and his daughter Denise Stover, Tyler Barter and his wife Rachael and daughters Emilie and Abigail (who sang songs to Great-Grampie Hurst) of Kennebunk.

He was predeceased by a son, Dan.

At his request, there will not be a funeral.

Hall's of Boothbay has care of the arrangements.  To extend online condolences for John Hurst, or to share a story or pictures, visit their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.