Betty & Jesse Hunter

Betty Hunter (Tomlin) passed away peacefully at home with her family nearby on September 16, 2022. She was the wife of Jesse D. Hunter, sharing 67 years of marriage together. Jesse passed away the following morning, September 17, 2022, accomplishing his last wish to stay with her until her health struggles were over.

Born in Rosston, AR on 4/20/1937, Betty was the daughter of Isaac S. Tomlin and Norma E. Stone. She graduated from Fairview High School in 1955, and shortly after she and Jesse were wed on 6/4/1955.

Jesse was born 1/6/38 in McGehee, AR, the son of Don W. Hunter and Gracie O'Connor. He attended Camden High School and graduated in 1955. After they were married, they moved to Pensacola, FL where he served in the Navy until 1960, then they moved to Baton Rouge, LA where he attended LSU and worked nights at the USPS. When Jesse graduated from LSU in 1963, they moved to Huntsville, AL where he worked for NASA and the Apollo Moon Project. In 1966 a transfer for work brought them to Phoenix, where he worked for GE, Honeywell, eventually retiring in the late 1990's. Upon retirement he helped his son in his surveying business, learning a new talent and even taking classes to learn the skill.

Square dancing was an activity that they enjoyed for many years, with Jesse calling and teaching in the Valley of the Sun Square Dance Organization. They made many lifelong friends during that time. Betty loved to paint, sew, craft and decorate her home, as well as all the kids' homes! After her stroke in 2009 she was limited in what she could do, but she remained the glue that kept the family stable. Her main focus was her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Christmas was her favorite season and she loved preparing for it all year long. Jesse enjoyed working Sudoku puzzles and helping with the grandchildren activities. For many years Sunday dinners at their house were a tradition that they kept up to stay close with the family. His passion in the years since 2009 was taking care of Betty, keeping up with her doctor appointments, getting her to the rehabilitation gym and finding recipes that were healthy for her health. During his career he won the H.W. SWEATT Award for Engineers and Scientists, and made adaptations to codes during his work at NASA that helped put the Apollo programs on the moon.

Betty is survived by brothers Bill Tomlin (Susan) of Godfrey, IL; Richard (Sherry) of Camden, AR. She was preceded in death by her parents, Isaac and Norma, and her sister Joyce Jones, all of Camden, AR.

Jesse is survived by his sister, Betty L. Peele (Crowe) of Baton Rouge, LA, sister in law Becky of Orlando, FL, and predeceased by brothers Willis and wife (Margueritte) of Camden, AR, , Wesley (Carolyn) of Baton Rouge, LA, Don Hunter of Slidell, LA, and his sister, Patsy Phillips of Camden, AR. They are also survived by their children Suzanne Peterson (Bryan) of Phoenix, AZ, Jesse Hunter, Jr (Karen) of Glendale, AZ, Laine T. Hunter (Kim) of Phoenix, AZ and Gregg Hunter of Phoenix. Also surviving are their grandchildren Vincent Santa Maria (Kelly) of Commerce City, CO, Jesse Hunter, III (Amy) of Anthem, AZ, Mckenzie Hunter-Smith (Natalie) of Long Beach, CA, Neil Hunter of Gilbert, AZ, Kendyl Greene (Dylan) of Glendale, AZ, Patrick Hunter of Mesa, AZ, Jeremy Hunter and Alena Hunter of Phoenix, AZ, great grandchildren Juliet and Noah Hunter, Leonardo and Victoria Santa Maria, Luke, Ellie Ann and Jacob Hunter, Taelyn Greene, Andersen Hunter-Smith as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Hansen Mortuary, 8314 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ on Monday, September 26, 2022. Visitation will be at 10:00 am with chapel service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of the Valley Organization, ASPCA, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, American Diabetic Association or Alzheimer's Research. Additionally, Services will be held at Proctor Funeral Home in Camden, AR, 442 Jefferson Street SW, on October 12, 2022.

For those that cannot attend please use this live stream link https://vimeo.com/753124509

Tributes