Mary Dolores Hunt

MARY DOLORES HUNT
March 11, 1936 ˜ July 17, 2024

Mary Dolores Hunt, 88, mother of six children, Licensed Practical Nurse and resident of Vancouver, WA, died July 17 at Grandpa’s Place in Battle Ground, WA, surrounded by family.

Mary was born March 11, 1936, in Lewiston, ID. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert C. Johnson and Maria C. Johnson; brother, Francis Johnson; and husband, William M. Hunt.

Surviving is her sister, Margaret A. Gratton, Canby, OR; and children, William (Bill) M. Hunt, Mary (Beth) E. Petit, Yvonne (Bonnie) M. Melo, Brenda J. Montei, James (Jim) B. Hunt, Sandra (Sandee) H. Bero. She also is survived by eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mary graduated from the Providence Academy in Vancouver in 1954. Mary received her Licensed Practical Nursing certification from Clark College and worked the night shift at PeaceHealth (St. Joseph Hospital). She and her mother were the first mother/daughter recipients of the LPN program from Clark College.

She walked three miles daily, visiting Park Hill Cemetery to say hello to her deceased parents, mother-in-law and husband, buying milk or groceries at Safeway and greeting other walkers with a salutation. Mary never passed by a coin on the ground and loved counting up her riches at the end of every year. She honored the “In God We Trust” message on the coins with mindfulness and gratitude. Mary had several circles of friends including bowling leagues, Butterfly women’s lunch club, breakfast friends at Kmart, Target or Burgerville, Minit Mart in the Heights neighborhood, St. Joseph Church (Saturday night Mass), and lifelong neighborhood connections. She volunteered to clean St. Joseph Church once a week from the early 1970s until she could no longer physically do so in 2017. She was an avid bowler and bowled until she was 80 years old. In fact, she met her husband at a bowling alley and it was often their date night and joy in life.

Mary loved to look at Mount St. Helens from her window every morning, while completing word search puzzles. She liked watching favorite television shows, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, or laugh at older shows like Andy Griffith or Leave it to Beaver. She managed her gardens, baked zucchini bread, crocheted blankets for all the kids, sewed clothing for years and canned food for the large family.

Mary will be remembered for her devotion to God, family, kindness to others, patience and ability to make something beautiful out of very little. She was gifted and never lost her sense of humor. Her last words were “I love you!”

Arrangements are being managed by Hamilton-Mylan Funeral Home. Service will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Aug. 19 at 11 a.m.

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