Donald Norman Hunt

 Donald Norman Hunt, 79, died January 30, 2024. He was the fourth child born to David William and Zelma Simmons Hunt on May 20, 1944. He felt very lucky to have grown up in the extraordinary “village” of Baker, Oregon, where everyone looks out after and helps to raise the children.  How fitting that he lived his last twenty-five years in the similar “village” of Spring City, where everyone looks out after one another and doesn’t hesitate to provide help when there is a need.  He truly loved and appreciated our friends and neighbors and our small town surroundings

   Don’s occupation throughout his life was mostly related to cars and mechanics. Starting out at service stations, auto part stores and selling cars. His favorite jobs were working at Lockheed at the Salt Lake airport where he fueled airplanes and worked on fueling trucks. He also really enjoyed the 20 plus years he worked at Wasatch Academy as their fleet manager. 

    He loved living and enjoyed the every day things most of us take for granted.  Work was okay but had it’s limits.  On a nice day, you should only work so long before it’s time to get on your motorcycle and go around the block. The ‘little block was 100 miles, the ‘big block’ 300, the choice depended on how much daylight you had. 

    Good music played a big part in his life, whether he was traveling or working in his beloved garage, he was always listening to one of thousands of favorites. It might be jazz, the blues, zydeco, blue grass or classical, he had an appreciation for most genres. His first iPod was one of his most treasured gifts and it played day and night through his final days.

    He was a ‘trickster’ loving to tease and play tricks on everyone, especially the grandkids.

    One of his greatest accomplishments was building the Spring City log cabin where he and Lawny resided for the last twenty-five years of his life. What an undertaking that was, but it was a labor of love and he truly loved his home.

    Don had a lifetime love affair with cars, motorcycles played a close second. At the age of five he learned to drive his Dad’s ’37 Chevy pick-up, standing on the seat to steer and cruising around the yard in low gear.  His Dad contributed to this by keeping a five gallon gas can full at Don’s disposal. His Mom just warned him not to go out of the yard. This love of cars and driving grew into what car enthusiasts call “the sickness”, where you just can’t quit collecting all the cool cars you can possibly afford. There is no known cure.  He thought it was a real bonus when he married Lawny because she was part of a “car family”.  He drove many unique and special cars. Some favorites among them were his 1940 Chevy sedan with suicide doors, his 1970 ‘cuda’, (not to be confused with a ‘Barracuda’), two 1937 Ford coupes with tear drop headlights and the baby blue 1957 Ford pick-up that was his last everyday driver. He didn’t believe in show cars, cars are to be driven and enjoyed not trailered or garaged. To do so is cruel and unusual punishment for the driver as well as the car.  He said cars ‘talked’ to him, told him what they needed, no one ever doubted it.  You may have visited us and left with a cleaner car than what you arrived in. Whether you noticed or not didn’t matter, he washed it for the car, not you.

    He taught his kids and many others to drive. When visiting, most of the grandkids didn’t leave without having a driving lesson. A favorite part of working at Wasatch Academy was teaching and helping teachers get their CDL licenses.

    Don married Sharon Elizabeth Kearney and together they had two sons; Donald Wayne Hunt, and Justin Harden Hunt. They later divorced.

    Patricia Guthrie was Don’s second wife and they have two daughters; Linsey Miranda and Chelsea Paige. Don and Patty later divorced.

    In 1988 Don and Lawny Gayle Reynolds were married and had a truly wonderful life together for NOT long enough.

    Don is survived by his wife, Lawny, his two sons; Donald Wayne Hunt, Kingman, AZ and Justin Harden Hunt, Lake Havasu, AZ, daughters; Linsey Miranda Harkness (Kevin) of Cottonwood Heights, UT and Chelsea Paige Hunt (Lewis) of Cedar City, UT. Also survived by his sister Marjorie Kerns of Haines, OR, and Lawny’s kids; Jim, Aaron and Mindy Bringhurst. Plus 11 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Maretta Jones and Mary Knowles, brother; David James Hunt and niece; Shannon Anderson.

    An abundance of gratitude and love go out to the many caregivers from Hometown Personal Care, At Home Health Care & Hospice and Laurel Groves Assisted Living. You were all wonderfully kind and we know you truly cared for Don.

    In lieu of flowers: Service your car, wash and wax it, then go for a leisurely ride somewhere in this beautiful country of ours, maybe Don will be with you in spirit! And PLEASE, use your mirrors!

   REVISED, Services will be held Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at Rasmussen Mortuary (96 N 100 W, Mt. Pleasant) at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation at 10:30. Interment in the Spring City Cemetery. 

A celebration of life is tentatively scheduled for May 19, 2024 at the log home that Don built.