In Memory of JC Hunt

JC Hunt, Jr was born on August 14, 1932 and went to be with his Lord on December 16th 2020. He was the son of Monabell and Jewell Hunt, now deceased.

He attended public schools first grade through twelfth grade in Joplin, MO and graduated in 1950. In High School he was an officer in ROTC, played trumpet in the band, was a member of the LCF fraternity, and the DeMolay. Every morning he stood in the main hall of the High School and played Reveille on his trumpet while a classmate raised the flag on the front lawn. After high school he attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO for two years where he played in the band and was a member of the freshman basketball team.

In 1952 he went to work as a ticket agent for Greyhound Bus Lines in Joplin, MO, Springfield, MO and Amarillo, TX. In 1955 he was drafted in the U.S. Army and served his country for two years. He took basic in Ft. Ord, California and attended transportation school in Ft. Eustis, Virginia. He then served the next 18 months as a Transportation Specialist in Paris, France and was discharged in January of 1957. He returned to Greyhound in Springfield, MO and later Joplin, MO. His oldest son, Jay, was born in Joplin in 1958 and his younger son, Jeff, was born in Joplin in 1960.

In 1963 he moved back to Springfield and attended Evangel College. He received his B.S. degree in 1967. While attending Evangel he worked as an Admission Counselor and later as the Assistant Dean of Students. From 1967 to 1971 he attended college at Oklahoma State University and worked as a Complex Director in the Department of Housing. After completing his graduate work and receiving his master’s degree he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and worked as Student Activity Director at the newly established Community College.

In 1974 he and Linda Ann Larson were married and made their home in Tulsa. Jay attended Union High School and graduated 1977. After working several years at TCC he accepted a job of Director of Counseling at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, OK. He and his family moved to Wilburton in 1977. He and Linda welcomed a baby girl to their family in 1978. She was named Carli Ann Hunt after her Grandfather Carl and Mother Linda Ann.

JC was a member of Center Point Baptist Church, Post #141 of the Masons and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) in Krebs, OK, and former member of the Lions Club and Elks Lodge.

His younger son, Jeff, graduated from WHS in 1979 and Carli graduated from WHS in 1996. Jeff played football in high school and Carli was a cheerleader and a member of the band. All the members of JC’s family have at least a bachelor’s degree.

JC continued working at Eastern for the next 27 years as Director of Counseling, Admissions Director, Registrar, Vice President of Academic Affairs, President of the branch campus in McAlester, and Executive Assistant to the President. He served as interim President on two occasions. JC retired from Eastern in 1997, went back and worked another seven years retiring again in 2004.

He is survived by the love of his life, Linda Ann; three children, Carli Ann & husband Gary Lay of Wilburton, Jay & wife Lynn of McKinney, Texas, and Jeff of Tulsa, OK; Grandchildren, Jeremy Lay of Wilburton, Jaclyn Foley & husband John of Oklahoma, City, Alex Hunt of Oklahoma City, Brandon Hunt & wife Leigh of Tulsa, and Courtney Gilbert & husband of Nebraska; Three great-grandchildren, Keagan Murphy of Oklahoma City, Blakely Shae Foley of Oklahoma City, and Maxim Overton of Nebraska; Extended family, Walter & Sandy Freeman, Clark & Tammy Boling, Charlie Martin, Brittany Goff & husband Chris, and Triston Boling all of Wilburton.

Viewing will be Friday, December 18th from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Waldrop Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held Saturday, December 19th at 2:00 p.m. at Gowen Cemetery with Rev. Bud Vinson officiating.

Pallbearers: Jonathan Denham, Clark Boling, Charlie Martin, Eddie Muse, Kyle Vanderburg and Jeff Marshall.

Honorary Pallbearers: Jay Hunt, Jeff Hunt, Gary Lay, Brandon Hunt, Alex Hunt, Jeremy Lay, Walter Freeman, Leland Walker, Bill & Pat Miller, John Pixley, Jerry Smith, Terry Barnes, Army Buddies 594th Transportation Unit and Class of 1950, Joplin H.S. Joplin, MO.