Francis Thomas Hurley was born on January 12, 1927,  in San Francisco, California, and died at January 10, 2016.

He was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

Francis served as Archbishop of Anchorage from 1976 to 2001.

His parents  were Mark Joseph and Josephine (née Keohane) Hurley.

Hurley was ordained to the priesthood on June 16, 1951.

Francis was appointed Auxiliary Bishop as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Juneau in Juneau, Alaska, and Titular Bishop of Daimlaig by Pope Paul VI, on February 4, 1970.

He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 19 from Bishop Mark Hurley (his brother), with Bishops William McManus and Joseph Bernardin, a future cardinal, serving as co-consecrators.

Later, Hurley was  named the second Bishop of Juneau on July 20, 1971, being formally installed as such on the following September 8.

His work expanded Catholic ministry in the smaller and more remote communities of the diocese and helped implement the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, such as promoting more active roles for the laity.

The Pope Paul appointed him the second Archbishop of Anchorage on May 4, 1976.

He was installed on July 8 of that same year, and remained in that position for twenty-four years, finally resigning on March 3, 2001.

The Archbishop was also an airplane pilot.

Following his retirement, Hurley stayed active in the church.

Francis Thomas Hurley presided over the funerals of former Alaskan Governor Wally Hickel, and former US Senator Ted Stevens, after their 2010 deaths.

Francis Thomas Hurley passed away at 88 yrs.