Joshua Hunter

1998 - 2025

Joshua Hunter, 36

It is with deep sadness to announce that LT Joshua Michael Hunter passed away on October 9, 2025 in Yorktown, VA while on active duty for the United States Navy.

Josh, 36, was born on September 7, 1989 in Kalispell, MT. He went to several elementary schools until his family settled in Bigfork where he attended and graduated from Bigfork High School in 2008. During high school he played football and basketball while working part-time at the Bigfork Inn. Just before graduation Josh joined the Navy and was the recipient of the Scott Vallely Scholarship. Since his basic training was scheduled to start in the late Fall of 2008, Josh spent the summer working for a close family friend, Mark Casalegno, of Hammerquist & Casalegno.

Josh enlisted in the Navy on December 2, 2008 and attended Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois. After completion of Recruit Training, Josh attended Master-at-Arms 'A' School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. In April 2009, Josh reported to Marine Corps Security Force Battalion in Kings Bay, Georgia where he served as a sentry in the Waterfront Restricted Area. During his time in Kings Bay, he advanced to Petty Officer Third Class.

In May 2011, Josh served as a Joint Tactical Operations Center (JTOC) Supervisor of the Marathi NATO Pier Facility in Souda Bay, Greece (Island of Crete). After Crete, Josh reported to Coastal Riverine Group ONE Detachment in Santa Rita, Guam. During this tour he advanced to Petty Officer First Class and earned the Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist Qualification.

On November 1, 2018, Josh received his commission as an officer, earning the rank of Ensign. Josh was then promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade and then finished his career as a Lieutenant serving as a Nuclear Weapons Security Officer at the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment in Yorktown, VA.

Josh received numerous awards while in the Navy including: Navy/MC Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Navy/MC Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon (2nd Award), Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (3rd Award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3rd Award), Navy/MC Overseas Service Ribbon (4th Award), NATO Medal, Expert M16/M4 Rifle medal, Expert 9mm Pistol medal (2nd Award), Sharpshooter .45 Cal Pistol ribbon, Sharpshooter 9mm Pistol ribbon and Marksman M16/M4 Rifle ribbon.

Josh had also earned Warfare Devices: Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer (FMFWO), Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS), Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist (EAWS),

Enlisted Information Dominance (IW), Navy Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist (EXW).

He also earned Badges: Navy Security Force (NSF) Officer, Small Craft Pin – Enlisted, Small Craft Pin – Officer, Nuclear Weapons Security (NWS) Officer and Nuclear Weapons Security (NWS) Enlisted.

Josh was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed coming back to Montana to hunt, fish, and spend time on the various stretches of the Flathead River as often as possible. When he was not working or headed back to Montana, he spent his spare time golfing and working out.

Josh was also an outstanding cook and was especially accomplished at 'wowing' his Navy friends with tales of living in the wilds of Montana or catching large striped bass in Chesapeake Bay, while smoking meat on his Traeger and drinking Buffalo Trace bourbon. This past September, Josh was able to attend a Washington Commanders football game in Washington D.C., his favorite NFL team where they provided a win on his 36th birthday.

Before his passing, Josh met the love of his life, Tawny Coletta. Josh and Tawny had dated for over a year and were planning to move in together when Josh was transferred to his next assignment. We were able to meet Tawny when we took a family cruise in the summer of 2025 to Alaska and she was immediately adopted into our family.

Josh is survived by his mother Tonya Buxton (Bill) of Bigfork, MT and his father Paul Royston (Nancy) of San Antonio, TX; his brothers Isaac and Eli Passwater, and Cole Royston; his step-brothers and sister Caleb and Jordan Buxton, and Amanda Buxton; his grandparents Ruth and Pat Conlin, Judi Johnson, and Ted and Sandy Royston; as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his grandfather Gene Hunter; great grandparents Beryl and Eunice Mahlum, and Beverly Thompson.

Josh had many good friends that he considered family from the Navy including Matt and Alyssa Patrick, Dustin and Danielle Stephens, and Chris Breckenridge.

Josh will be sorely missed by all. He was an outstanding young man and without a doubt served as the standard that every young person should strive toward in life.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday November 1st, 2025 at Crossroads Christian Fellowship at 7465 Montana Highway 35 in Bigfork. In lieu of flowers, please honor Josh with a donation to Tunnel to Towers Foundation www.t2t.org, the Headstrong Project theheadstrongproject.org, or other veterans organizations.