Pat and Jim Hunter, native Californians, passed away in Missoula, Montana in January and May 2019 respectively. They moved to Montana to be close to their family. Pat was born to an old Whittier Quaker family on October 11, 1927. During the Depression, the Haworth family moved to a small farm on the Santa Ana River, back when it was actually a river, that they shared with a pet crow named Jim. Mom graduated from high school and once the boys were older went back to school at Cerritos College and Cal State Fullerton to obtain her Masters in education degree. She was a teacher and after retiring from that profession she volunteered doing adult literacy work. She was active in her church covenant group for many years.
Jim was the first child born in LA in 1926 into a fun loving and sometimes rowdy family that emigrated from southern Idaho. The Hunter family was always involved in construction. Grandpa Ernest ran his own small construction company while Grandma Marj was a nurse. Dad played football at Montebello high and worked as a lifeguard at the local pool. He enlisted in the Navy in WWII and was sent to the University of New Mexico and USC. Upon graduation, he took a slow boat to China and back.
They started their life together in Whittier where son Chris was born in the same hospital as his mom and grandmother. Then it was off to El Centro where son Tim was born. Southern Cal Gas then moved them to LA where dad worked for many years while the family lived in La Mirada and Glendale.
About the time the boys moved on to further their education, Dad became president of a development company and they moved to Newport Beach – a lifelong dream for Mom. They also became first class world travelers. They often included the whole family on these trips and inspired the love of travel in us all. They maintained a world map with pins that show their destinations that remains a source of wonder for the family.
One of their first dates was a ski trip to Big Bear Mountain – it didn’t end well with Mom suffering a knee injury. But their love of skiing was lifelong and they introduced their children and grandchildren to the sport – especially at Park City, Utah where we spent many family holidays.
Mom and Dad lived very long, successful and eventful lives. They were lifelong and active members of the Presbyterian Church. They taught us the importance of service to the community and giving to others that are less blessed than we have been.
Mom and Dad are pre-deceased by their parents Dick and Dorothy Haworth and Ernest and Marjorie Hunter and grandson Casey. They are survived by their two sons, Chris (Carol) and Tim (Shelley), grandkids Kyle (Cory) and McKenzie (Sam) and four granddaughters, Marley, Isla, Violet and Estelle and beloved cat, Petey.
Graveside services will be held at Pacific View Cemetery.