Lenard Hunt

William Lenard Hunt passed away on December 22, 2020. He was born on May 25, 1926 and was the first child of William Leonard and Ellen Webb. Two more sisters and another brother were soon added to the family. He spent his childhood in Snowflake where he said he always had fun. 

Lenard's dad was away from home earning a living by working for the CC Government in all parts of Arizona.  His uncle, Linford Webb, had him work with him hauling firewood and selling it in Winslow for fifty dollars a pickup load.  He always said Linford was the man that taught him to work.

He went to school in Snowflake, graduating in May 1944. He joined the Navy the same day he graduated. He was 18 and wanted to serve his country. He was always proud of his military service. Lenard served 18 months on the USS Rockbridge running an amphibious boat carrying soldiers to the beaches for combat.  He had a deep love for his country and passed that on to his children. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

He met his beloved first wife, Helene Hatch, in Taylor at a dance and they were married on April 25, 1947. They settled in Snowflake and began their family there. Four of their children were born while they lived there. He then bought land and built a new home in Taylor, where the youngest son joined the family. He was working at that time for his father-in-law building roads in Flagstaff. He later cut logs for the mills in the area and on the Kaibab for Whiting Brothers.

He drove the pickle truck from Taylor to Phoenix to Arnolds Pickle Company for two of his uncles. He worked for Suburban Gas in Show Low and also owned a Richfield Service Station. He went to work at the paper mill and retired after 29 years.

He loved to ride horses and always had several. He and Helene went on many trail rides. He also did many rides with Northland Pioneer College. He had many fond memories of all those trips. He worked with his father-in-law and many others on the LDS Church Ranch herding and branding cows. Those were cherished memories.

Lenard and Venla were married in 1999 and lived in Taylor for 22  years. They had many happy experiences, fishing at Roosevelt Lake, traveling several trips around the western states and a bus tour to the eastern parts of the United States. 

He loved to camp in the woods and passed that love on to his children. He always celebrated his birthday, which was always around Memorial Day, with a 3-day family campout. We all cherished those times.

He was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He always answered callings and served diligently. He was kind to widows and enjoyed serving them. He cut firewood, ran errands and fixed things around their homes. He was always serving someone.

He is survived by wife, Venla; his children, Kathryn (Neil), Milo (Diana), Lee (Debbie), Albert (Trenna); 23 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helene; son, Willard; and two grandsons, Justin Brewer and Daniel Hunt.

He was truly loved and will be greatly missed.

A  Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2021, from 10:00 A.M-12:00 noon at Owens Livingston Mortuary, 84 E 19 S, in Snowflake, Arizona.

Interment will follow at Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery in Taylor, Arizona.