Elno James Lunt

Elno James Lunt, 86, of Mesa, died August 12, 2005, at the Citadel Care Center in Mesa, Arizona. Elno was born February 8, 1919, at the family home east of Duncan, Arizona, to Broughton and Mary Amanda Mortenson Lunt. He graduated from Duncan High School where he participated in football, art, and played trombone in the band. Elno loved to draw, blessing the lives of family members. March 13, 1941, he married Anne Theodosia Lewis in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They made their home in Duncan, Arizona, where Elno farmed, dairied, and ranched with his brothers as Mary Lunt & Sons. During World War II, he was a mechanic assigned to General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters in the Philippines and Japan. Elno was active in community affairs serving on the Duncan Cotton Gin board for over 35 years. He also served on statewide committees and boards including the State Advisory Committee on Education, the Tax Advisory Committee, and Cattle Growers of Arizona and New Mexico, and over 17 years on the United Dairymen of Arizona board. Elno suffered a severe heart attack in 1977. He and Anne moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 1985, where he enjoyed growing fruit and flowers that he shared generously. Elno was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in numerous positions including secretary of the seventies quorum in Mt. Graham Stake and as high priest group leader. Elno loved participating in his ward choir. At the time of his death, he was serving as baptism coordinator for the Mesa Arizona Kimball Stake, a position he held for many years. As a young man, he served a mission for the LDS Church in Sweden and the Southern States. Together, Elno and Anne served as missionaries on the Peter Whitmer Farm in the New York Rochester Mission. Elno is preceded in death by his wife, Anne; his parents; and four brothers, Kenneth, Olas, Rudd, and Irl. He is survived by children, Annette (Grant) Hunter, E. James, Jr. (Irene), John Bruce (Merlene), Shirleen (Paul) Daniels, David Kent (Lani), and Jeanne (Leo) Lines; brother, Elvin (Ethel) Lunt; 34 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren. Family will visit with friends on Friday, August 19, 2005 from 6-8:00 p.m., Bunker's Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ., and also, one-hour prior to funeral services at the stake center. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 9:00 a.m., Mesa Arizona Kimball Stake Center, 1266 S. 32nd St., Mesa, AZ, with Bishop Laurin Ashby conducting. Graveside services with Bishop Stanfird Jones conducting will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the Virden Cemetery in Virden, New Mexico under the direction of Bunker Family Funeral Homes of Safford, AZ.