(June 14, 1926 – August 30, 2014)
Mary Eleanor Fitzell Hunter passed away on August 30, 2014. She was born on June 14, 1926, in Hollywood, California to Leroy Waldo Fitzell and Mary Eleanor Ord Fitzell. She was married and sealed to Richard Cannon Hunter on October 11, 1957, in the Los Angeles California LDS Temple.
Two months after her birth, Mary’s family moved to San Diego where she was named the most beautiful baby of San Diego. She loved growing up in the outdoors and especially enjoyed the beach. In 1943, the family moved to Los Angeles where she finished her senior year of high school.
Mary loved to learn, especially reading. She also was an extremely talented artist. But most of all she loved playing tennis, softball, and basketball. She was unbeaten on the tennis court by any of her friends; girl or boy! She also had a love for horses, which she inherited from her father. She could jump on any horse, saddled or not, and ride!
Mary graduated from Woodbury College after two years with high honors in commercial art. After working for several years to save money she went back to school at LA State College where she was captain of the softball team and on the basketball team. Again she graduated with honors, this time with a degree in elementary education. Shortly after graduation she began teaching, which she enjoyed for three years.
After knowing Richard Hunter for several years in the Los Angeles Stake, they began dating. Three months later they were engaged. It was an incredible decision for her for he had been paralyzed in an accident six years earlier, which left him a quadriplegic. Mary spent the next 49 years caring for him in a completely selfless and loving manner. Her care of him was unparalleled. After they married, they moved to Santa Maria, Calif., where they built and managed The Hunters’ Inn. They adopted two sons while living there. A few years later they moved to Malibu, Calif., where they built a lovely home and adopted a daughter. In 1977, the family moved to St. George where she spent the remainder of her life.
Mary loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and had a brilliant knowledge of its teachings. She was an active member of the LDS church and served in numerous callings. She was a dutiful servant and epitomized the phrase “endure to the end”.
She is survived by her brother, Roy Fitzell (Sandy)-St. George; children, John Christopher-St. George, Utah, Jeffrey Scott (Melissa)-Malibu, Calif., and Meg Ann McArthur (Rich)-Santa Clara, Utah; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, an older brother, Gilbert Ord Fitzell and her husband, Richard Cannon Hunter.
Funeral Services
- A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 10 a.m. in the Santa Clara City Cemetery.
The family wishes to thank Platinum Care Assisted Living and Zion’s Way Hospice for the care they gave to Mary.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 435-673-2454. Friends and family are invited to sign Mary’s guestbook.