Annette Hunt

Richfield, Utah - Annette Hatch Hunt was a joyous soul, born in Salina, Utah, on December 9, 1944. The only daughter and fourth of five children, she grew up in Grass Valley surrounded by four wild brothers. From an early age, the mountains were her home. She learned to cook at the sheep camp where she spent summers with her dad, serving up hearty wild game stews, homemade soups, and rustic breads.

When the family later moved to the “big city” of Richfield, her wild spirit could not be tamed. She continued to explore the red hills west of Richfield on horseback, spending summers with her cousins in Koosharem and Antimony.

In 1960, a handsome Hunt boy caught her eye. Annette and Cecil were married on November 24, 1960, at her parents’ home. Together, they welcomed four children and raised them to be at home on any mountain- hunting, fishing, and eating from their large garden and whatever wild game was in season.

Annette was a crack shot and a skilled angler, though she never bragged- she let her photos tell the story of every adventure. She passed on her love of the outdoors to her grandchildren, teaching them how to camp, fish, and live off the land.

In 1974, after her youngest started kindergarten, Annette began her career in the lunchroom at Ashman Elementary. Over her 36 years there, she made countless lifelong friends. Her bright smile and warm heart brightened many a child’s day. She found joy in connecting with each student, and retired in 2010 knowing she had helped nourish generations of Richfield’s children.

Annette had a gift for creating beautiful things with her hands. She perfected the crocheted kitchen scrubby, crafting seasonal shapes, flowers, and even garden vegetables. She could often be found crocheting by the lakeshore or next to the campfire while Cecil fished or hunted. She shared her handiwork with friends she met along the trail, her kindness and generosity truly made the world a better place.

Grandma’s kitchen was always full of treats. If she loved you, she fed you- something her two fat dogs could also attest to. It was impossible to leave her house without a pocket or plateful of goodies. We couldn’t wait for our birthdays, when she made homemade chicken noodle soup and cheesecake. At Christmas, her kitchen filled with the sweet aroma of peanut brittle, toffee, fudge, and her unforgettable spicy gumdrop fruitcake. We’ll never eat a peanut butter bar without thinking of her, and we all carry a few pounds of her love around our midsections.

Most days, you could find Annette and Cecil sitting together on their front porch, watching the commotion of the world go by and admiring the beauty of the clouds as they contemplated life.

Annette is endlessly proud of her family, which includes:Her brothers Eddie, Marvin, and DeLoy;Her children Emily Heins (Monroe), John and Shelly Hunt (Vernal), Kelly and Tami Hunt (Glenwood), and Angie and Todd Blomquist (Monroe); 12 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 6 granddogs; and many more great- and great-great-granddogs, all of whom she loved, and fed.

She is preceded in death by her sweetheart of 65 years, Cecil Hunt; her parents, June and Norma Hatch; her brother, McRay Hatch; her sons-in-law, Rick Nielson and Tim Heins; and four great-grandbabies.

Annette’s life was a testament to love, laughter, hard work, and the beauty of simple joys. Her spirit will live on in the mountains she loved, the family she cherished, and the memories she leaves in all our hearts.

Graveside services for Annette will be held at 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 6, 2025 in the Richfield Cemetery. Friends may call for viewing from 9-11:30 A.M. the morning of the services at the Springer Turner Funeral Home Chapel, 260 North 400 West in Richfield.

Burial will be in the Richfield Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina, Utah.