Sarah W. Hurlburt

Sarah “Missy” Hurlburt, of Portsmouth, NH, formerly of Mattapoisett and Duxbury, MA, and Raleigh NC, died March 2, 2004 at The Mark Wentworth Home following a lengthy illness with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 79, and was the beloved wife of the late C. Graham Hurlburt, Jr., and devoted mother of four. In the early 1970’s Ms. Hurlburt and husband, Graham, pioneered concept of mussel aquiculture in the U.S when they traveled the coasts of France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands to research how European farming and marketing of the shellfish could be adapted to the American culture and diet. Ms. Hurlburt studied cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She authored “The Mussel Cookbook,” the first cookbook ever published by Harvard University Press, 1977. As a lecturer on cooking, cookbooks, and aquiculture, she appeared on television, radio stations, magazines and newspapers across the country and overseas. She also addressed members of Congress and the U.S. Capital about aquiculture. Additionally, Ms. Hurlburt was an accomplished pianist, who performed professionally in New York City. She also taught piano and played the organ for local churches. Born in Williamson, West Virginia, Ms. Hurlburt was the daughter of the late Douglas F. and Virginia (Miller) Worley. She lived in Raleigh, North Carolina for many years before marrying her husband, Graham, and moving to the South Shore of Massachusetts to raise their family in Duxbury. Family members include; one son, Graham “Beau” Hurlburt and his wife Kathy of Mattapoisett, MA; three daughters, Sarah Lutz and her husband Rich of Annandale, NJ, Cyndy West and her husband Mark of Nottingham, NH, and Leeds Scott of Portsmouth, NH; seven grandchildren, Gray and Peter Hurlburt, Rebecca, Ryan, and Richie Lutz, Taylor West and Cythia Scott; one brother, Douglas Worley of Pennsylvania; one nephew and two nieces. She was predeceased by her husband, C. Graham Hurlburt, Jr. who died February 22, 1980. Services will be private. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Hospice organization or to the Alzheimer’s Association. The Cremation Society of New Hampshire is in charge of arrangements. To view her on-line obituary or to send a condolence go to www.csnh.com