Clarence C. Hunter

Clarence Clayton Hunter passed away on Saturday the 15th of January, 2011. Clarence was born in San Saba, Texas on the 26th of September, 1917 to Asa Palmer Derrick (aka) Albert Ralph Hunter and Martha (Mattie) Rebecca Dove. The family moved to Mountainair, New Mexico in 1920, where they bought 160 acre farm, approx. 5 miles north of town. Times were tough and farming was dependent on the rain, it did not rain very much. Clarence had 2 brothers, Otha Palmer Hunter and Clifton Forrest Hunter, as well as two sisters, Mary Francis (Hunter) Hill and Mattie Verna (Hunter) Chisum, none of the brothers or sisters are still with us. Clarence sought a better life for himself after working on the farm, he served in the Army during WWII, in the European Theater, after the Army he became a Parts Manager at a local Car Dealership in Mountainair. Clarence met and later married Alsie Inez Hambleton (a local school teacher from Portales) in Mountainair. Clarence went to Eastern New Mexico University, obtaining a Bachelor Degree and then later a Master's Degree in Education. Clarence and Inez settled in Morairity, New Mexico, where Clarence taught Industrial Arts, Driver's Ed and Typing, and Inez taught 2nd grade. Clarence and Inez eventually moved to Alamogordo, NM in 1956, where they taught at Oregon and Sacramento Elementary Schools. Clarence and Inez moved to Las Cruces, NM in 1980 to be near their children. Clarence and Inez had two children, Keith A. Hunter, who is married to Beatrice D. (Christensen) Hunter and Marilyn Kay (Hunter) Simpson, who was married to Frank B. Simpson Jr., Kay passed away in June of 2007. Alsie Inez (Hambleton) Hunter passed away the 21st of Feb. 2010. Grand Children include Wendy Simpson, Stephanie Simpson and Derrick Hunter. Clarence enjoyed his life, he was quite the handyman around the house and enjoyed watching his Grand Children grow up. Clarence and Inez were very happy to see their Great Grand Children arrive, Isabel and Olivia Lopez, daughters of Wendy Simpson, they enjoyed their smiling faces. Clarence (Dad, Grand Pa and Great Grand Dad) will be missed by all of us, he was a great man with a big smile and a personality we all liked. Clarence gave us 93 years of himself. The Hunter Family would like to thank Home Instead for all of their great service and the Caring Caretakers that helped Mom and Dad. We also want to thank the Mesilla Valley Hospice, who helped ease those last few days for my Dad. Clarence and Inez's will be buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM, prior to the internment, a Family Gathering will take place in Las Cruces, to help Celebrate and Remember their time with us. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mesilla Valley Hospice at 299 East Montana, Las Cruces, NM 88005 PDF Printable Version