Don Hurless, 87, died at 12:18 p.m., Monday, June 15, 2015, at his residence.
Don was born June 22, 1927. in Lima to Truman and Leota (Rockwell) Hurless who preceded him in death. On Jan. 11, 1959, he married Carolyn Klaserner who preceded him in death on Feb. 13, 1987.
Don is survived by cousins David Custer (Oklahoma) and Dona Mathwig (Lima, Ohio), good friends, Joyce and Earl Lhamon, Richard Patterson, a host of former piano students and fellow musicians.
Don taught piano in his studio in Lima. He was a certified member of the Ohio Music Teachers' Association and was a past president of the American Federation of Musicians Local #320.
He studied piano with Margaret Jewell and Professor Herman Ostheimer, a student of Leschetizsky and Duprey. His study of composition and orchestration have been with the late William Byrd and Felix Labunski, a student and assistant of Sergey Prokofiev.
Among Don's notable students was Joe Henderson (deceased), a famous jazz musician.
Don was a composer of many works performed by the Lima Symphony Orchestra, area high school concert bands, choirs, lab bands, and jazz ensembles. His piano duet, "Tone Row Twist" has been published by the Willis Music Company.
He enjoyed performing jazz and lecturing in the North West area of Ohio. He had appeared on FM 91, TV-WLIO and WBGU TV.
Don was founder of the Don Hurless Band and also performed as a member of Don Hurless and the Notables.
Among other endeavors he invented and obtained copyrights for Pian-A-Robics
Funeral services will be 3 p.m., Friday, June 19, at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Shawnee Chapel.
Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Elida.
Friends may call noon until 3 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Lima Astronomical Society or Ohio Music Teachers' Association.
Condolences may be expressed at chiles-lamanfh.com.
