HUNTER, Betty Lou

(Maiden Name: Shride)

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, August 31, 2011 Betty Lou Shride Lehan Hunter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and teacher to countless Arizona students, passed away unexpectedly at home Aug. 26. Betty Lou was born to Helen and Carl Shride and grew up in Wickenburg. She attended school in the Garcia “Little Red Schoolhouse” and graduated from Wickenburg High School. She and her little brother Bill were raised near their father’s Ice Plant where opportunities for mischievous fun were endless. Their little home on the corner of Apache and Adams was a social hot spot and included a corral for the family horse “Brownie.” In high school Betty worked at the Saguaro Theater and rode the train to Phoenix to take piano lessons. She played for services at the Presbyterian Church and participated in Rainbow Girls and Eastern Star. The Shrides eventually outgrew the little house and moved one block away to their new home on Madison Street in 1950. She graduated from the University of Arizona and received her teaching degree, kicking off a 30-year career in education. Betty was a proud Delta Gamma sorority member and while at school met and married her first love Chuck Lehan. After stops in Tucson, Casa Grande, Yuma and Scottsdale, the family settled in Gilbert to give the kids a country upbringing. Betty received her masters at ASU and retired from teaching only to start another career at America West Airlines. She lost Chuck in 1988 but eventually found love again and married her best friend Paul Hunter in 1995. She was a small town girl at heart and always considered Wickenburg to be her home town. Betty is survived by her husband Paul, sons Chris (Tereasa) and David (Susan), and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in her memory to the Gilbert United Methodist Church. Services will be held Thursday (Sept. 1) at 10 a.m. at the church located at 331 S. Cooper Rd, Gilbert AZ 85233. Graveside services to follow on Friday (Sept. 2) at 9 a.m. at the Wickenburg Cemetery.

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Posted by Sharla on August 31, 2011

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