Donald J. Hunt

Donald Joseph Hunt, 75, passed away on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, in Roswell, NM. Please take a moment and share a kind thought or memory with Don’s family at www.andersonbethany.com. The Memorial Services will be held at Peachtree Village Retirement Community, 1301 W. Country Club Rd., on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 9:30 AM. On April 9, 1949, Don was born to Forrest Emeret and Mary Joanne Hunt in Torrance, CA. He graduated from Torrance High School, and he went on to receive his bachelor's degree from UCLA in governmental economics. He lived and worked in Los Angeles for most of his career one of the jobs he loved the most was teaching for the independent skills and living center run by Easter Seals organization. Don would help teach those with limited abilities life skills, so they could go on and live as independently as possible. He taught them to keep their head held high, and a smile on their face, and to take pride in what they accomplished every step of the way. He loved to travel and challenge himself both physically and mentally. He would work long enough to save up for his next adventure and off he would go. Some of the challenges he took on solo. Such as walking from Mexico to Canada, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Fuji in Japan, bicycling across Australia, walking partway and bicycling the rest of the way across Europe. But his favorite adventures were with his youngest daughter Donna Marie together on 10 speeds they left oceanside California on May 22,1986, when Donna was only 11 years old. They peddled for two straight months and 3,400 miles until reaching Chesapeake Bay Virginia on July 22, 1986, along the way Donna turned 12 and was treated to a very special hot fudge Sunday. Together the duo road 10 speeds across South America when she was 14 years old and turned 15 on the road. Some of his favorite pastimes were ping pong and chess. Everybody who met Don always said he was a very nice, polite, caring, outgoing person, they all said he could make them laugh. Don will be greatly missed by his family and his friends. Those left to cherish their memories of Don are his two daughters: Carrie Ann Houghtaling and spouse Edward Lee Houghtaling, and their children; Christina Nicole Estaviillo, Clifford Ben Estavillo, Allyson Lee Houghtaling, Morgan Preston Houghtaling and their grandchildren Anaiese Nicole Alvarado, James Sebastian, Corey Taylor Peterson, Evelyn Veronica Blair, Arya Rose Blair, Billy Jean IV, and Callum Cash Cooper; his youngest daughter, Donna Marie Tutor and spouse Justin Deeds Tutor and their children, Autumn Nicole Ramirez, Zoe Adele Tutor, Nathan Gregory Tutor, Sophia Marie Tutor, and Rory Noah Tutor; Don’s brothers: David Hunt, and Forrest Emeret Hunt III and spouse Jo Ann Hunt and their daughter Randy Lynn Wade and her spouse Bryan and their two children Sydney Wade and Porter Wade; daughter-in-law, Katrina Hunt and children, Mirabel Hunt and Caroline Hunt. Don is preceded in death by his parents: Forrest Emeret Hunt Jr. and Mary Joanne Hunt; and nephews: Forrest “Woody” Emeret Hunt IV, and Rodney Allen Hunt. The family wishes to give a very special thanks to Peachtree Village Retirement Community as they have been both family and friends. Thank you to Mary Beth, Betty, Alma, Sandy, Alicia, Rebecca, Dede, Erica, Yesenia, Sylvia, Albert, Stephanie, Ramona, Gabby, Gladys, Lily, the other Gabby, Joe, Joey, Phillip, Leona Tarry and her late husband Joe Tarry, Doris, Preacher Nic, Mike, Sheila, Sheriff, the other Alma, and many more that we didn’t list here but you all made life for Dad and our family wonderful this last year. We would also like to give a very, very special thanks to Visiting Angels and their employees who became our Dad's and our families’ family and good friends. Thank you to Tyler, Amanda, Kimberly, Sindy, Lynn, Gabby, Christy, Bryan, Tim, Woody and so many more who worked with him before, our deepest and our heartfelt thanks go to all of the above mentioned, we could not have done it without each and every one of you. Thank you to all of the doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals you were all amazing. Thank you to Hospice, you all made things easier at the end. Thank God we did not have to go through it without you. We sincerely appreciate the hard job that you do. Don’s tribute was lovingly written by his family. .

Donald J. Hunt

April 9, 1949 - August 6, 2024