Preston Hunt

Preston Hunt was born on December 14, 1928, at the small farming town of Enterprise, Washington County, Utah. He was the ninth of 11 children born to Thomas Elmer and Emma Day Hunt. At 96 years of age, he passed away surrounded by many family members and with the compassionate care of the health care professionals at Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah, on April 9, 2025. The family is especially grateful for their thoughtful and loving care.

He was born to a loving and hardworking family that did not have a lot of money, but they had each other and, through hard work, lived happy lives. He learned to love hard work, enjoy the simple things of life and to be of service to God, his country and his family.

Preston is the last of his immediate family to pass away, He is preceded in death by his wife Annie Darlene Hunt, grandson Jason Humphries, and son-in-law Clyde Noorda. He is survived by his loving and caring wife Erin, his seven children, their spouses, 35 grandchildren and 61 great grandchildren, and sisters-in-law Edna Gubler Hunt (Ivan) and Barbara Hunt (Larry).

Preston’s death closes a generation of his immediate family, but his legacy will live on through his posterity.

Preston’s life spanned an era of great technological change. He grew up using horses and wagons, wood burning cook stoves and bathing in a round tin tub. His toys were small animal bones he would collect, which he called “boney horses and cows.” He lived to see and use many emerging technologies that improved home life and would become his career in life.

He served in the U.S. Air Force and was trained as an Air Traffic Controller, using the new technology called radar, which had been developed in the early 1950s and revolutionized air travel. He later had his life’s career at the Salt Lake International Airport where he worked as a Controller. His career grew and he served as the Training Officer for the Salt Lake Area controllers and as the Liaison Officer between Hill Air Force Base and the Salt Lake International Airport’s air space.

Preston served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern States Mission, mostly in Illinois and Wisconsin. It was while on his mission that he became acquainted with Annie Darlene Price, another missionary whom he later married after the completion of their missionary service. They lived in Everett, Washington; Enterprise, Utah; Salt Lake City and Taylorsville, Utah. Throughout their union seven children were blessed to be part of their family. He was a wonderful husband, father and provider. There were many happy years when the family was able to spend time together as the children grew up. They traveled, enjoyed the outdoors, water and snow skiing, fishing, hunting, camping and being together.

He served in many church positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such as Sunday School President, member of a Bishopric, Bishop, and counselor in a Stake Presidency. Preston and Darlene served as companions, which they loved, while he was counselor to the Arizona Mesa Tempe Mission President during their mission. He did his best to meet needs and ease the burdens of other people in any assignment he was given with his companion or when other opportunities arose during his lifetime.

Following their mission, Darlene was diagnosed with cancer. After a valiant two-year battle with this disease, she passed away. Preston was her loving care giver and they were able to celebrate 50 years together. Darlene’s passing was a great loss to Preston, but through the guidance of the Spirit and a friend he and Darlene had taught in Arizona, Preston met Erin Head. Over time, that relationship blossomed and Erin and Preston married in the Mount Timpanogas Temple.

Erin has been a blessing to Preston and the family for the past 22 years. For many of the younger grandchildren and great grandchildren, Erin has been the Grandma they know. Preston and Erin have been able to travel to the eastern United States and to Canada, visiting sites significant to each of their family heritages.

Preston has always been interested in family history and coordinated a lot of temple work being done on his side of the family. He also enjoyed being a member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, including leadership roles in the chapter to which he belonged. Erin fit right in and together they worked on family history, attended one of the temples weekly on Thursdays to do the work for those they had researched and connected to the family lines. They performed this service together until Preston was no longer able to attend due to his declining health.

Preston was always the patriarch in the family. As he was lying in bed the evening before he passed away, he asked the family to gather around his hospital bed. He wanted to have a family prayer, which he gave, blessing the family and Erin, and inviting Heavenly Father’s help in the lives of his family members.

He was a spiritual person, who loved the scriptures and serving the Lord. He strived to be a good servant of God. He loved and served his family and loved this country.

This is the legacy he has given to us. Thank you, Dad!

A viewing will be held at the McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah, on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The funeral will be held at the Paradise Ward Chapel, 1555 West Lovely Road (5095 South), on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing from 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. before the funeral.

A funeral will also be held at the Enterprise Utah Stake Center, 80 South Center Street, Enterprise, Utah, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 12:00 noon with a viewing from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. before the funeral. Interment will be at the Enterprise Cemetery following the funeral.

Those who wish to livestream the Paradise Ward service may do so at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83428087862?pwd=WTBzVWhPU3BJZUFaa1d0aStaN0podz09