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Monday afternoon, June 25, 2001, Eunice Hurst Mobley joined her husband, Roy Thurston Mobley. She was in residence at the Cottages. Born in Laurel, MS July 7, 1905, she was the sixth child of Walter Jefferson Hurst and Lula Slaughter Hurst and the last survivor of her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her only child, Eunice Mobley Cole as well as many nieces and nephews. Eunice graduated in Education and Social Sciences from the University of Mississippi where she met Roy, a budding lawyer. They celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary October 2, 1987, shortly before his death in February 1989. They were a dynamic team in her work with the New Mexico State Employment Service and his as attorney for several Apache Indian Tribes. Eunice became a pioneer for recognition of women's place in the working world. She was one of the first employees of the Mississippi Employment Agency in 1937 and recruited workers to build the Oak Ridge Atomic Facility. In 1941, as President of the Laurel MS Chapter of the Business and Professional Women's Club, she was sent to the National Convention in California as the state's representative. On the trip out and back, the move to New Mexico was hatched. In 1944, Eunice was assigned as manager of the Alamogordo office dealing with projects at Holloman AFB and White Sands Proving Grounds. The Mobley's were there for the first atomic explosion. In 1955, she requested a transfer to Albuquerque as more central to her husband's business and three weeks later was asked to become the manager of the Albuquerque office, the only woman manager in the State of New Mexico. With her experience in supplying employees for Kirtland AFB and Sandia Corp., Dr. Charles R. Spain asked her to be a member of a small committee to decide on the advisability of creating a school for vocational and technical training. The committee unanimously agreed and TVI was born. Eunice was one of the developers and served on the Board of the Youth Employment Service, offering a baby sitters course, job responsibility, grooming, first aid and child care. She has been quoted in the press frequently on self-esteem, pride in a job well done and success in the business world. She continued active participation in the B&PW Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Order of Eastern Star, member of the First Methodist Church and several women's groups. After her retirement from NMES in 1967, Eunice and Roy traveled widely between Alaska and Europe. Eunice lived by her principles. She understood the need for positive thinking, judgment with compassion, unconditional love and trust, forgiveness and especially a lively sense of humor. She maintained contact with friends from all stages of her life and was highly respected by friends and co-workers alike. She was a loving and supportive mother, a much-adored grandmother, and a deeply loved and loving wife. An avid rose grower, she cherished the friendship of Dorothy Doolittle, NM's lover and champion of nature. Aphids were her only enemy. She loved her family, poetry, music, the visual arts and Scottie dogs. Albuquerqueans can take pleasure in celebrating her life. There will be a private Memorial to be announced at a later time. Strong-Thorne Mortuary 1100 Coal Ave. SW is in charge of her arrangements.
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