Lurline (Mudford) Hatherhill, age 95, passed peacefully in the Renaissance Unit of Timber Ridge Assisted Living Facility in McKinleyville, California, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Lurline was born Oct., 6, 1929, in Texarkana, Arkansas. She was the oldest child of Avon Mudford and Sylvia “Lottie Lee” (Johnson) Mudford. Her family moved to Visalia, California, in 1945 and to Arcata, California, in 1952.
Lurline was pre-deceased by her mother and father; a twin brother, Hollice Mudford; two younger brothers, James and Charles Mudford; her first husband, Lue Welch; and her second husband, Albert “Jack” Hatherill. She is survived by a younger brother, Jerry Mudford; a younger sister, Donna (Mudford) Frizzell; her son, Michael G. Welch; and a number of nieces and nephews.
During her early adult life, Lurline was a homemaker who also served the Arcata community as a former member, vice president and president of the Arcata Women’s Club. She also served with Arcata Home Advisors. Through a commitment to doing things to the very best of her ability, she became an exceptional musician, artist and seamstress. Later in life, Lurline worked in secretarial positions at Cal Poly Humboldt.
Lurline became a born-again Christian early in life and attended various churches regularly. About 2016, she became a member of McKinleyville Baptist Church in McKinleyville, California, where a memorial service will be held for her on Saturday, April 12, 2025, beginning at 11 a.m. The service will be led by pastor Bob Illman with refreshments and fellowship to follow.
Lurline’s remains will be interred at Greenwood Cemetery in Arcata, California, where her husband, Albert J. Hatherill is also interred.
This article appears in Taco Week 2025.