Individual Details
Ivin Elmer HUNT
(16 Aug 1925 - 29 May 2002)
IVIN ELMER HUNT
(Biography of Ivin Elmer Hunt by Allyson Hunt, daughter, Jan 14, 1979 after interviewing many friends and family members as well as Ivin himself.)
In the small south western town of Enterprise, Utah, Elmer and Emma Hunt raised their large family in the humble surroundings filled with love. From this union came three girls and eight boys including: Ollie Philena, Geneva, Clair, Elwin, Ellis Day, William Terril, Floyd D., Ivin Elmer, Preston, Larilla and Larry.
Elmer and Emma worked hard to support and teach their family, They homesteaded some ground, 120 acres, about ten miles west of town where they built a two-room ranch home. They spent their time either at the ranch or at home in Enterprise.
Each of the family helped with the chores, and Ivin learned to love ranching and farming as he worked with his father. They would finish helping, and then try to save time to play. He never had any boughten toys when he was a young, so he, his brothers, and his friends had to be creative and make their own toys. One of the best ones they came up with turned out to be a great deal of fun. They would take a board about three inches wide and around three feet long. Then they took an old tobacco can, or an old pop can, and step on it in the middle so it started to curve around the foot. Then they would tack it to the bottom of the board. They would rind a round, wooden ring from the wheel of the old wagons, and put it at the top of the board. When they were ready, they would roll it down the board and by the time it got to the bottom, it usually had picked up a pretty good speed and then they'd push it as far and as fast as they could. It was a great toy and they spent a lot of time with it. They also played with "boney horses and animals" (made from old bones they found lying around), as well as "kick the can".
As Ivin grew up in the little red house in Enterprise, the only transportation that he knew was with "horse and buggy". His father would load up the children into the buggy and head for the ranch, which would take them approximately two hours with the wagon loaded. If they just rode the horse, without having the buggy on behind them, it would only take one hour.
When he was a little boy, his father raised turkeys and always have them, as well as other animals, at the ranch. The family would have to go with the team and wagon and get the feed for them. They hauled feed back and forth with the team and wagon. They hauled all of their wood this way too.
Some of Ivin's best friends were Stan and Ken Staheli. They lived across the street from each other and played together quite a bit. Everything they could think of to do, they did together. The dug underground houses, ate dry bread, onions and had all kinds of fun.
He was a Boy Scout when he was a youngster. The program wasn't very active in the Enterprise area, but he did receive a few awards, namely, his first and second class award, and his tenderfoot award.
The day Ivin was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Merril Terry brought over a single seated car with a rumble seat and a luggage rack on the back bumper. He picked Emma and Ivin up and took them over to Winsor's pond. Ivin sat on the back rack with his feet hanging down dragging a little bit. There were cows in the road and they slowly made their way through them when suddenly the car ran over a little calf and Ivin then knocked it with his legs. They were both okay. Shortly thereafter, Ivin and a Prince girl were baptized. The water in the pond was cold as most pump water is and was only about three feet deep. Merril Terry baptized him on 2 Sep 1933 on a very memorable day.
From the time they were big enough to shoot a basketball, Ken and Ivin would practice the game with a little net on the west side of Elmer's house. Ken said, "He was always a 'pro' at this game, and they always tried to be on his side whenever they played basketball."
Ivin enjoyed sports and music in school. He played the French horn in the band. He was one to always do his best and wanted to be known for trying hard.
Ivin has always tried to hold his temper, and be responsible. He was always a big help to his father on the ranch.
When in his early twenties, he was drafted into the army. He wasn't drafted earlier because his family already had four boys serving. He started his service in basic training, but near the end he lost the hearing in his only good ear at a rapid-fire range. He was totally deaf and so the army sent him to Arkansas where he worked with some of the German prisoners of war. He also spent time in Idaho working to harvest sugar beets and potatoes. As the war ended he took the German prisoners back to Europe. From there he was sent to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. He was a Supply Sergeant, with the duties of rationing out the new clothes to all of the returning service men from overseas. Somewhere along the way, the hearing returned in his one good ear.
Ivin loved horses, ranching and cowgirls. He saw Edna Gubler for the first time at the Dixie Roundup Queen tryouts. When she rode in Ivin turned to his brother Bill and said, "There's the rodeo queen". They crowned the little "Dutch girl", so called because of her Swiss ancestry, who later became his wife.
Over the course of the next nineteen years five children were born to this union. Devon Ivin, Kelly Edmund, Fenton Gubler, Allyson and Madelyn. Ivin and Edna were, and continue to be, loving parents. Ivin supported his family by ranching, and farming. He worked with his father, saving all that he could and putting it toward building up his own herd of cattle. Eventually, he bought the old ranch and farm from his father. He continued to use his fathers brand as a tribute to him. He also worked at the Iron Mine near Cedar, and also at the Silver Mine in Beryl.
One of Ivin's greatest talents is his knowledge of his cattle, and he knows each one by a special name he has given them. He cares for them just as well as he cares for his own family and gets almost 100% calf crop each year. Ivin continues to enjoy a good horse, and he trains them well so he can cut out a cow from the herd, under any circumstances. He, as his father before him, includes his family in his ranching - especially at branding time.
Ivin is well liked and respected. He never had any formal education after high school, but relied upon his keen "common sense". While others might stand around wondering how to mathematically fix a problem, Ivin rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. A favorite story of the family is when the Silver Mine called in very educated "experts" to figure how to fix a problem with the ditches. They needed to raise the water level ever so slightly and struggled for hours as they looked the situation over. When Ivin arrived, he climbed on a nearby front loader, picked up a log and dumped it into the water. The log sank and the water level raised. The experts stood there with amazement on their faces, to be followed by a "good job!" He has left his family believing he can fix just about anything.
Slowing now, he enjoys sports on TV, horse races, ATV riding, rodeos and spending time with his family. The most joy and happiness that comes to him is when he knows that his children are happy and doing well. He is so pleased when one of them makes some special accomplishment in their life. His descendants now includes: five children, 21 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. He delights in their happy times and suffers with them in their low times. Either way, he is there - with them through it all.
Ivin is a man of few words, although he enjoys himself as he visits with others. He likes watching people. If he goes shopping with Edna or his children he will eventually work his way to a quiet spot where he can just sit and observe the crowds around him. He prefers the quiet life, and reading his paper. Each night he watches the evening news, although as the years progress, the time has changed to the 6 o'clock instead.
Over the years, this hard working man has just about worn out his body. He has been kicked in the teeth by cows and had teeth knocked out. He suffered with ulcers for a long time, possibly from taking pain killers for the bad head-aches, sore muscles and arthritis. He broke a muscle loose from his shoulder bone while lifting a bale of hay. His ankles had no cushion left and were bone on bone. The doctors eventually fused both ankles to reduce the pain. His knees are shot, endured a ruptured disk in his back, experiencing bone on bone there also. Part of his intestines as well as 65% of his stomach was removed as they cut the worst of the ulcers out. He could keep the doctors busy for many years to come. However, if the rest of the family is going to climb up to the Mount Timpanogas cave, then Ivin will be going also. He may have been slowed, but he won't stop.
In 1998 it was decided that the ranch would have to be sold. Ivin realized it was slowly killing him, but so were the thoughts of no longer ranching. It was sold to Bob Holt, and Ivin faced a completely new lifestyle. Ranching and farming had been his life for over 70 years. He still helps Kelly with the farm as much as he can. He seems to enjoy it, and Kelly appreciates the help. Getting rid of the ranch was one of the hardest things he had ever done. A person needs a job and needs work. That's what he missed the most after it was sold. He missed getting up and having a job to do - something to keep him going - to make his day seem worth while. In Ivin's perfect world he would have been able to keep the ranch, remain working and have responsibilities to accomplish. He really missed the ranch.
Edna longed to be closer to Santa Clara, and the St. George Temple and with the new found freedom they started spending the winters in their condo in St. George on the ridge of the black hill. Ivin missed Enterprise, but the warmer climate and the cable television with lots of sports made it a little more bearable for him.
In September, 1999 Ivin and Edna celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with an open house for family and friends. They had continuous entertainment as each family shared their talents. It was an enjoyable evening as they visited with many old friends and their family.
Ivin enjoys spending time with his family. With Edna serving on the water district for St. George, they have had more opportunity to travel. Their children have also taken them on trips to different places of interest. One of Ivin's favorite trips was when Devon took them back to Nauvoo and to all of the church historical sites. They also visited Branson, and Mount Rushmore and Rapid City, South Dakota, and the country he saw (sigh!). He enjoyed it. He loved being with them in the van and seeing the country. Devon had it all planned, and did all the driving. It was a perfect trip. In recent years he has also been on the Piute ATV trail and back to the Sequoia National Park. Another of his favorite trips was when the family went to Wyoming, Montana and Idaho back in 1965. Seeing the country is something he enjoys. Calgary, Canada was another beautiful trip.
Life is too fast. Ivin remembers when Grandpa Hunt loaded the family all up in the wagon and they went behind the Enterprise Reservoir. It took most of all the day to get there and to get back. They spent a couple of days picking choke cherries. No one was in a rush and they just enjoyed each others company.
Now life is slowing for Ivin. Those giant hands have less work to do, and he can relax and read his paper, watch the Jazz on TV or sit for hours with a grandson listening to Louis La'mour books. He would like to have a little more to do and misses the hard labor he is accustomed to. However, there comes a time when we all have to slow done. He does the best he can to become adjusted to this slower pace. His favorite moments are spent with family around and he goes out of his way to support or help his children and grandchildren. They are lucky indeed to have such a wonderful man in their lives.
Final Notes - June 7, 2002:
Over the past couple of years Ivin has struggled with his health. He has continued to feel worse and finally went to see a couple of different doctors complaining of shortness of breath. He felt that it was either his heart or lungs. A battery of tests were performed. He didn't have any definates on what the problem was but they found some shadowing on his lungs. He continued to struggle but seldom complained.
In March 2002 Dad told Mom that he thought he ought to go and see an eye doctor. He was starting to show very drastic signs of a detached retina, although he didn't know this would be the diagnosis. He had eye surgery in Salt Lake City where they were able to repair his retina. His sight was slowly returning to normal.
Ivin continued to notice shortness of breath. He was very frustrated as he tried to work outside and could do just a little bit until he had to stop and rest. His stomach gave him so much trouble he seldom ate without being sick. He often had to fight dizziness especially when standing up.
On April 18, Dad caught a ride to Dixie with Becky. Mom had gone down earlier in the week, and Dad wanted to spend a little more time in Enterprise. Becky dropped him off in front of the condo and Dad waved for her to go on. Unknown to Becky, he was dizzy but stood there until she drove away. As he walked to the curb and began stepping up he tipped over and fell on his right hip. He was found lying on the curb in a heap by Doug Howard, a local chiropractor. He felt his hip was broken and helped Mom get Dad into the car to take him to the hospital.
Dad was scheduled for surgery, but had to wait until the doctor could fit him in. He lay on his back for 12 hours before he was finally taken into surgery. We were told that he might have to have a complete new hip if it was really bad, but they hoped to just pin it. Things went very well with the hip surgery and they were able to just put a couple of pins in.
However, while on the table the surgery staff noticed that he was showing signs of a heart attack. They worked very hard to stabilize him. Finally at 4 a.m. he was ready to be life-flighted to Salt Lake LDS Hospital. Again we endured the waiting game but by 11 a.m. On April 19, he was wheeled into another surgery where he was given a quadruple by-pass on his heart. The doctors felt that he had done very well, but explained that he would be down for six weeks for both his hip and his heart surgery.
The next week was spent getting stronger and he did everything within his power to follow what the doctors said so he could return home quickly. Being cooped up in a hospital was hard on him, and seemed to motivate him to work very hard. The respiratory therapists stated they had never seen anyone so tough in their whole careers. Dad would take the 20 minute treatments without even stopping. The nurses told us that 'everyone' has to stop, except Mr. Hunt. Dad would just buckle down and take his "Modena train treatments" without a break.
Dad started to get worse rather than better. He had been silently aspirating his food and liquids since the surgery. It was felt that when they had put the respirator down his throat his epiglotis had been damaged. He was immediately told that nothing goes in his mouth. It was very hard for Dad not to be able to drink, as the oxygen he was getting was so drying to his mouth and lips.
They tried very hard to get Dad's lungs to drain but were unable to figure out the problem. Finally on April 30, the doctor decided he had what they call Pulmonary Fibrosis. It is a terminal lung disease with an expected 3-6 more years of life. They thought he would have to be on oxygen the rest of his life. As a family, we faced these new trials. We were used to facing trials at this point. In a matter of weeks Dad had endured many problems: the broken hip, heart attack, heart surgery, epiglotis not working, kidneys struggling to keep up, blood clots, elavated blood sugars, pancreas unable to keep up, aspiration pnemonia, and then IPF. Dad was being assulted from within.
He kept working at getting better, but just never felt any better. We, as a family, could see his strength improving as he finally was able to walk all the way around the TICU circle. But after that he started to struggle more and more. It was finally decided that Mom would hire an ambulance and Dad would be transferred to Dixie Regional Medical Center. They thought he would be in the hospital another two weeks, but then in rehab for a couple of months yet.
Saturday, May 18, exactly one month after falling, Dad was transferred to Dixie. He was so glad for the change and stated that he even enjoyed the ambulance ride. But he never regained the strength to go for another walk. Madelyn took him outside in the wheel chair and let him enjoy the wonderful summer air.
After several days, and many wonderful visits from friends and siblings the doctor told us that he doubted Dad would recover. We witnessed this for ourselves over the next couple of days as Dad slowly lost the fight with his lungs.
What a wonderful blessing we were given - to have Dad stay with us an extra six weeks. We were able to spoil him with our love each day of that time as we took turns spending time with him. We were able to rub his shoulders, legs and feet and read the daily newspapers to him. Mom spent every day by his side and left only as one of the children came to spell her off. Each of the grandchildren were given the opportunity to tell their grandfather how much the loved him and thank him for the wonderful example he has been in their lives. Most of his siblings were able to visit with him one last time, as well as many of his dear friends. Dad passed away in his sleep surrounded by wife and all of his children.
Ivin Elmer Hunt was honored by many family members and friends attending viewings and a funeral held June 1, in Enterprise. He was also buried in this town he had loved and lived in most of the days of his life. FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Utah, File #297 _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Blessing Certificate _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE accessed 23 Aug 2011), entry for Ivin Elmer Hunt, person ID KWC1-473. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page VALUE Certificate #1 _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Certifcate _INFO P FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page VALUE Gayle W. Evans, Patriarch _INFO P FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page
(Biography of Ivin Elmer Hunt by Allyson Hunt, daughter, Jan 14, 1979 after interviewing many friends and family members as well as Ivin himself.)
In the small south western town of Enterprise, Utah, Elmer and Emma Hunt raised their large family in the humble surroundings filled with love. From this union came three girls and eight boys including: Ollie Philena, Geneva, Clair, Elwin, Ellis Day, William Terril, Floyd D., Ivin Elmer, Preston, Larilla and Larry.
Elmer and Emma worked hard to support and teach their family, They homesteaded some ground, 120 acres, about ten miles west of town where they built a two-room ranch home. They spent their time either at the ranch or at home in Enterprise.
Each of the family helped with the chores, and Ivin learned to love ranching and farming as he worked with his father. They would finish helping, and then try to save time to play. He never had any boughten toys when he was a young, so he, his brothers, and his friends had to be creative and make their own toys. One of the best ones they came up with turned out to be a great deal of fun. They would take a board about three inches wide and around three feet long. Then they took an old tobacco can, or an old pop can, and step on it in the middle so it started to curve around the foot. Then they would tack it to the bottom of the board. They would rind a round, wooden ring from the wheel of the old wagons, and put it at the top of the board. When they were ready, they would roll it down the board and by the time it got to the bottom, it usually had picked up a pretty good speed and then they'd push it as far and as fast as they could. It was a great toy and they spent a lot of time with it. They also played with "boney horses and animals" (made from old bones they found lying around), as well as "kick the can".
As Ivin grew up in the little red house in Enterprise, the only transportation that he knew was with "horse and buggy". His father would load up the children into the buggy and head for the ranch, which would take them approximately two hours with the wagon loaded. If they just rode the horse, without having the buggy on behind them, it would only take one hour.
When he was a little boy, his father raised turkeys and always have them, as well as other animals, at the ranch. The family would have to go with the team and wagon and get the feed for them. They hauled feed back and forth with the team and wagon. They hauled all of their wood this way too.
Some of Ivin's best friends were Stan and Ken Staheli. They lived across the street from each other and played together quite a bit. Everything they could think of to do, they did together. The dug underground houses, ate dry bread, onions and had all kinds of fun.
He was a Boy Scout when he was a youngster. The program wasn't very active in the Enterprise area, but he did receive a few awards, namely, his first and second class award, and his tenderfoot award.
The day Ivin was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Merril Terry brought over a single seated car with a rumble seat and a luggage rack on the back bumper. He picked Emma and Ivin up and took them over to Winsor's pond. Ivin sat on the back rack with his feet hanging down dragging a little bit. There were cows in the road and they slowly made their way through them when suddenly the car ran over a little calf and Ivin then knocked it with his legs. They were both okay. Shortly thereafter, Ivin and a Prince girl were baptized. The water in the pond was cold as most pump water is and was only about three feet deep. Merril Terry baptized him on 2 Sep 1933 on a very memorable day.
From the time they were big enough to shoot a basketball, Ken and Ivin would practice the game with a little net on the west side of Elmer's house. Ken said, "He was always a 'pro' at this game, and they always tried to be on his side whenever they played basketball."
Ivin enjoyed sports and music in school. He played the French horn in the band. He was one to always do his best and wanted to be known for trying hard.
Ivin has always tried to hold his temper, and be responsible. He was always a big help to his father on the ranch.
When in his early twenties, he was drafted into the army. He wasn't drafted earlier because his family already had four boys serving. He started his service in basic training, but near the end he lost the hearing in his only good ear at a rapid-fire range. He was totally deaf and so the army sent him to Arkansas where he worked with some of the German prisoners of war. He also spent time in Idaho working to harvest sugar beets and potatoes. As the war ended he took the German prisoners back to Europe. From there he was sent to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. He was a Supply Sergeant, with the duties of rationing out the new clothes to all of the returning service men from overseas. Somewhere along the way, the hearing returned in his one good ear.
Ivin loved horses, ranching and cowgirls. He saw Edna Gubler for the first time at the Dixie Roundup Queen tryouts. When she rode in Ivin turned to his brother Bill and said, "There's the rodeo queen". They crowned the little "Dutch girl", so called because of her Swiss ancestry, who later became his wife.
Over the course of the next nineteen years five children were born to this union. Devon Ivin, Kelly Edmund, Fenton Gubler, Allyson and Madelyn. Ivin and Edna were, and continue to be, loving parents. Ivin supported his family by ranching, and farming. He worked with his father, saving all that he could and putting it toward building up his own herd of cattle. Eventually, he bought the old ranch and farm from his father. He continued to use his fathers brand as a tribute to him. He also worked at the Iron Mine near Cedar, and also at the Silver Mine in Beryl.
One of Ivin's greatest talents is his knowledge of his cattle, and he knows each one by a special name he has given them. He cares for them just as well as he cares for his own family and gets almost 100% calf crop each year. Ivin continues to enjoy a good horse, and he trains them well so he can cut out a cow from the herd, under any circumstances. He, as his father before him, includes his family in his ranching - especially at branding time.
Ivin is well liked and respected. He never had any formal education after high school, but relied upon his keen "common sense". While others might stand around wondering how to mathematically fix a problem, Ivin rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. A favorite story of the family is when the Silver Mine called in very educated "experts" to figure how to fix a problem with the ditches. They needed to raise the water level ever so slightly and struggled for hours as they looked the situation over. When Ivin arrived, he climbed on a nearby front loader, picked up a log and dumped it into the water. The log sank and the water level raised. The experts stood there with amazement on their faces, to be followed by a "good job!" He has left his family believing he can fix just about anything.
Slowing now, he enjoys sports on TV, horse races, ATV riding, rodeos and spending time with his family. The most joy and happiness that comes to him is when he knows that his children are happy and doing well. He is so pleased when one of them makes some special accomplishment in their life. His descendants now includes: five children, 21 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. He delights in their happy times and suffers with them in their low times. Either way, he is there - with them through it all.
Ivin is a man of few words, although he enjoys himself as he visits with others. He likes watching people. If he goes shopping with Edna or his children he will eventually work his way to a quiet spot where he can just sit and observe the crowds around him. He prefers the quiet life, and reading his paper. Each night he watches the evening news, although as the years progress, the time has changed to the 6 o'clock instead.
Over the years, this hard working man has just about worn out his body. He has been kicked in the teeth by cows and had teeth knocked out. He suffered with ulcers for a long time, possibly from taking pain killers for the bad head-aches, sore muscles and arthritis. He broke a muscle loose from his shoulder bone while lifting a bale of hay. His ankles had no cushion left and were bone on bone. The doctors eventually fused both ankles to reduce the pain. His knees are shot, endured a ruptured disk in his back, experiencing bone on bone there also. Part of his intestines as well as 65% of his stomach was removed as they cut the worst of the ulcers out. He could keep the doctors busy for many years to come. However, if the rest of the family is going to climb up to the Mount Timpanogas cave, then Ivin will be going also. He may have been slowed, but he won't stop.
In 1998 it was decided that the ranch would have to be sold. Ivin realized it was slowly killing him, but so were the thoughts of no longer ranching. It was sold to Bob Holt, and Ivin faced a completely new lifestyle. Ranching and farming had been his life for over 70 years. He still helps Kelly with the farm as much as he can. He seems to enjoy it, and Kelly appreciates the help. Getting rid of the ranch was one of the hardest things he had ever done. A person needs a job and needs work. That's what he missed the most after it was sold. He missed getting up and having a job to do - something to keep him going - to make his day seem worth while. In Ivin's perfect world he would have been able to keep the ranch, remain working and have responsibilities to accomplish. He really missed the ranch.
Edna longed to be closer to Santa Clara, and the St. George Temple and with the new found freedom they started spending the winters in their condo in St. George on the ridge of the black hill. Ivin missed Enterprise, but the warmer climate and the cable television with lots of sports made it a little more bearable for him.
In September, 1999 Ivin and Edna celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with an open house for family and friends. They had continuous entertainment as each family shared their talents. It was an enjoyable evening as they visited with many old friends and their family.
Ivin enjoys spending time with his family. With Edna serving on the water district for St. George, they have had more opportunity to travel. Their children have also taken them on trips to different places of interest. One of Ivin's favorite trips was when Devon took them back to Nauvoo and to all of the church historical sites. They also visited Branson, and Mount Rushmore and Rapid City, South Dakota, and the country he saw (sigh!). He enjoyed it. He loved being with them in the van and seeing the country. Devon had it all planned, and did all the driving. It was a perfect trip. In recent years he has also been on the Piute ATV trail and back to the Sequoia National Park. Another of his favorite trips was when the family went to Wyoming, Montana and Idaho back in 1965. Seeing the country is something he enjoys. Calgary, Canada was another beautiful trip.
Life is too fast. Ivin remembers when Grandpa Hunt loaded the family all up in the wagon and they went behind the Enterprise Reservoir. It took most of all the day to get there and to get back. They spent a couple of days picking choke cherries. No one was in a rush and they just enjoyed each others company.
Now life is slowing for Ivin. Those giant hands have less work to do, and he can relax and read his paper, watch the Jazz on TV or sit for hours with a grandson listening to Louis La'mour books. He would like to have a little more to do and misses the hard labor he is accustomed to. However, there comes a time when we all have to slow done. He does the best he can to become adjusted to this slower pace. His favorite moments are spent with family around and he goes out of his way to support or help his children and grandchildren. They are lucky indeed to have such a wonderful man in their lives.
Final Notes - June 7, 2002:
Over the past couple of years Ivin has struggled with his health. He has continued to feel worse and finally went to see a couple of different doctors complaining of shortness of breath. He felt that it was either his heart or lungs. A battery of tests were performed. He didn't have any definates on what the problem was but they found some shadowing on his lungs. He continued to struggle but seldom complained.
In March 2002 Dad told Mom that he thought he ought to go and see an eye doctor. He was starting to show very drastic signs of a detached retina, although he didn't know this would be the diagnosis. He had eye surgery in Salt Lake City where they were able to repair his retina. His sight was slowly returning to normal.
Ivin continued to notice shortness of breath. He was very frustrated as he tried to work outside and could do just a little bit until he had to stop and rest. His stomach gave him so much trouble he seldom ate without being sick. He often had to fight dizziness especially when standing up.
On April 18, Dad caught a ride to Dixie with Becky. Mom had gone down earlier in the week, and Dad wanted to spend a little more time in Enterprise. Becky dropped him off in front of the condo and Dad waved for her to go on. Unknown to Becky, he was dizzy but stood there until she drove away. As he walked to the curb and began stepping up he tipped over and fell on his right hip. He was found lying on the curb in a heap by Doug Howard, a local chiropractor. He felt his hip was broken and helped Mom get Dad into the car to take him to the hospital.
Dad was scheduled for surgery, but had to wait until the doctor could fit him in. He lay on his back for 12 hours before he was finally taken into surgery. We were told that he might have to have a complete new hip if it was really bad, but they hoped to just pin it. Things went very well with the hip surgery and they were able to just put a couple of pins in.
However, while on the table the surgery staff noticed that he was showing signs of a heart attack. They worked very hard to stabilize him. Finally at 4 a.m. he was ready to be life-flighted to Salt Lake LDS Hospital. Again we endured the waiting game but by 11 a.m. On April 19, he was wheeled into another surgery where he was given a quadruple by-pass on his heart. The doctors felt that he had done very well, but explained that he would be down for six weeks for both his hip and his heart surgery.
The next week was spent getting stronger and he did everything within his power to follow what the doctors said so he could return home quickly. Being cooped up in a hospital was hard on him, and seemed to motivate him to work very hard. The respiratory therapists stated they had never seen anyone so tough in their whole careers. Dad would take the 20 minute treatments without even stopping. The nurses told us that 'everyone' has to stop, except Mr. Hunt. Dad would just buckle down and take his "Modena train treatments" without a break.
Dad started to get worse rather than better. He had been silently aspirating his food and liquids since the surgery. It was felt that when they had put the respirator down his throat his epiglotis had been damaged. He was immediately told that nothing goes in his mouth. It was very hard for Dad not to be able to drink, as the oxygen he was getting was so drying to his mouth and lips.
They tried very hard to get Dad's lungs to drain but were unable to figure out the problem. Finally on April 30, the doctor decided he had what they call Pulmonary Fibrosis. It is a terminal lung disease with an expected 3-6 more years of life. They thought he would have to be on oxygen the rest of his life. As a family, we faced these new trials. We were used to facing trials at this point. In a matter of weeks Dad had endured many problems: the broken hip, heart attack, heart surgery, epiglotis not working, kidneys struggling to keep up, blood clots, elavated blood sugars, pancreas unable to keep up, aspiration pnemonia, and then IPF. Dad was being assulted from within.
He kept working at getting better, but just never felt any better. We, as a family, could see his strength improving as he finally was able to walk all the way around the TICU circle. But after that he started to struggle more and more. It was finally decided that Mom would hire an ambulance and Dad would be transferred to Dixie Regional Medical Center. They thought he would be in the hospital another two weeks, but then in rehab for a couple of months yet.
Saturday, May 18, exactly one month after falling, Dad was transferred to Dixie. He was so glad for the change and stated that he even enjoyed the ambulance ride. But he never regained the strength to go for another walk. Madelyn took him outside in the wheel chair and let him enjoy the wonderful summer air.
After several days, and many wonderful visits from friends and siblings the doctor told us that he doubted Dad would recover. We witnessed this for ourselves over the next couple of days as Dad slowly lost the fight with his lungs.
What a wonderful blessing we were given - to have Dad stay with us an extra six weeks. We were able to spoil him with our love each day of that time as we took turns spending time with him. We were able to rub his shoulders, legs and feet and read the daily newspapers to him. Mom spent every day by his side and left only as one of the children came to spell her off. Each of the grandchildren were given the opportunity to tell their grandfather how much the loved him and thank him for the wonderful example he has been in their lives. Most of his siblings were able to visit with him one last time, as well as many of his dear friends. Dad passed away in his sleep surrounded by wife and all of his children.
Ivin Elmer Hunt was honored by many family members and friends attending viewings and a funeral held June 1, in Enterprise. He was also buried in this town he had loved and lived in most of the days of his life. FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Utah, File #297 _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Blessing Certificate _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE accessed 23 Aug 2011), entry for Ivin Elmer Hunt, person ID KWC1-473. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page VALUE Certificate #1 _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Thomas Elmer Hunt Family Group Sheet; about 19611975; Information entered with three pens: Original about 1961, additions ca. 1965 and 1975. _INFO P FIELD NAME Page VALUE Certifcate _INFO P FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page VALUE Gayle W. Evans, Patriarch _INFO P FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page FIELD NAME Page
Events
| Birth | 16 Aug 1925 | Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States |  | ||
| Blessing | 4 Oct 1925 | Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States | | ||
| Ordination | 17 Oct 1937 | Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States | | ||
| Ordination | 1 Sep 1940 | Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States | | ||
| Letter | 6 Feb 1946 | Letter from WWII to Mom and all - Camp Shanks, New York |  | ||
| Letter | 3 May 1946 | Letter from WWII Camp Kilmer - Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, United States | | ||
| Marriage | 13 Sep 1949 | St. George, Washington, Utah, United States - Living | | ||
| Ordination | 26 Jan 1975 | Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States | | ||
| Military | 13 Mar 1995 | WWII - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States | | ||
| Patriaracal Blessing | 1 Sep 2001 | Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States | | ||
| Death | 29 May 2002 | St. George, Washington, Utah, United States | | ||
| Burial | 1 Jun 2002 | Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States | | ||
| Alt name | Ike | ||||
| Ancestral File Number | D4DC-X8 | ||||
| Miscellaneous | Cattle Brand - Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States | ||||
| Residence | 158 W. 200 S. Enterprise, Utah | |
Families
| Spouse | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Father | Thomas Elmer HUNT (1882 - 1965) |
| Mother | Emma DAY (1889 - 1975) |
| Sibling | Ollie Philena HUNT (1909 - 1999) |
| Sibling | Geneva HUNT (1911 - 2007) |
| Sibling | Clair HUNT (1913 - 2002) |
| Sibling | Elwin HUNT (1915 - 2003) |
| Sibling | Ellis Day HUNT (1918 - 2003) |
| Sibling | William Terril HUNT (1920 - 2005) |
| Sibling | Living |
| Sibling | Living |
| Sibling | Larilla HUNT (1933 - 1933) |
| Sibling | Lorraine HUNT (1934 - 2005) |
Notes
Letter
Camp Shanks [New York] Feb 6, 1946Dear Mom and all:
Letter
Camp Shanks [New York] Feb 6, 1946Dear Mom and all:
[letter] Camp Kilmer May 3, 1946
Dear Mom and all:
love
Endnotes
1. Birth Certificate, Utah, File #297.
2. Emma Day Hunt, , Hunt Family Records; supplied by Allyson Hunt Wood, [
3. Personal Records of Allyson Hunt Wood, Blessing Certificate.
4. f Latter-day SaintsPriesthood Ordinance Certificate - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
5. Personal Records of Allyson Hunt Wood, Certificate #1.
6. Marriage Records.
7. Emma Day Hunt, , Hunt Family Records; supplied by Allyson Hunt Wood, [
8. Personal Records of Allyson Hunt Wood, Certifcate.
9. Military Records.
10. Personal Records of Allyson Hunt Wood, Gayle W. Evans, Patriarch.
11. Personal Records of Allyson Hunt Wood.
12. Death Certificates.
13. Death Index.
14. Personal Records of Allyson Hunt Wood.
15. Personal Records of Allyson Hunt Wood.