HUNT, Ernestine

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 07/25/2006 Ernestine Burk Hunt, 84, died peacefully at her home in Santa Clara July 18, 2006 and is again with the love of her life, Charles Ray Hunt. She was a loving and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Ernestine was born March 9, 1922 to Joseph and Julia Burk of Eagar. She was the second of four children. She graduated from Round Valley High School in 1940. When she first saw Charlie Hunt she seemed to know that he was the one who was meant for her. They were married May 26, 1941 in Springerville. Their marriage was solemnized in the Mesa, Arizona Temple June 9, 1944. In 1942 Charles was inducted into the Air Force and while he was in Puerto Rico and Jamaica, Ernestine went to school to learn to work with sheet metal. After training, she worked at a Goodyear plant working on airplane wings and installing wing compasses. She later worked for Pan American Airways. After the war, Charles built a house in Waterflow, N.M. They moved to Tucson in 1949 and then back to the farm in Waterflow in 1954. Ernestine needed to drive her kids to and from all their activities so she learned to drive a car by driving the Henry J up and down the apple tree rows in the orchard. All eight of Ernestine's children graduated from Kirtland Central High School. She did everything she could to see that her children had opportunities to participate in sports, band, scouts, music and dance festivals, road shows, etc. She was always there for her family - they came first. She was a lifetime active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many church callings, mostly in the Primary. She served with Charles for 13 years in the "Name Extraction" program. In 1996, Charles and Ernestine moved to Santa Clara, Utah. In 2001, Charles was stricken with bone cancer and passed away. She has spent the rest of her days in Santa Clara near her son Rod and his family. She spent many hours working on scrapbooks and writing histories, which she truly enjoyed. She has written many poems and some songs. She loved her 49 grandchildren and would send each one something for their birthday and for Christmas. What a remarkable, hardworking, and loving person she was. She lived a lifelong dream last fall when she was privileged to sit near and shake hands with President Gordon B. Hinckley at the inauguration of her son-in-law, Kim B. Clark as President of BYU Idaho. Ernestine was preceded in death by her daughters Illene in 1946 and Marsha in 1969 and her husband in 2001. Ernestine is survived by her children, Ethel (Malcolm) Hansen of Wilcox, Marlene (Lyman) Bahr of Payson, Utah, Sue (Kim) Clark of Rexburg, Idaho, Malcolm (Michele) of Aurora, Colo., Rod (Patrice) of Santa Clara, Utah, Rocky (Cherie) of South Jordan, Utah, and Wade (Doris) of West Jordan, Utah. Her brother Aldrice Burk of Springerville, also survives her. A viewing was held Friday, July 21 from 6-7 p.m., at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah. Funeral services were held Monday, July 24 at 10 a.m. at the Kirtland Stake Center, Highway 64, Kirtland, New Mexico, with a viewing one hour prior to services. She was laid to rest in the Waterflow, New Mexico Cemetery by the side of her husband Charles R. Hunt and daughters Marsha Ann Hunt and Illene Hunt. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, George, UT (435) 673-2454. Friends and family are invited to offer their condolences at www.spilsburymortuary.com.