Amos Burnell Hunt - Walker Funeral Home

Amos Burnell Hunt, age 84, peacefully slipped from mortality on August 1, 2022, in his home in Spanish Fork, Utah. On his last day of life, he was surrounded by his wife and children as they reminisced, laughed, cried, prayed, and thanked Heavenly Father for such a worthy husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Burnell was born May 30, 1938, in Cedar City, Utah, to Jonathan and Agnes Hunt. He spent his childhood in southern Utah, loved by his father and mother, his four brothers, and his little sister. In high school, he performed in the high school operetta and played basketball, being named the Deseret News Mr. Basketball his senior year. He drove truck as part of the family business, hauling hay to California. He rode bulls and bareback broncos on the rodeo circuit under the assumed name Randy Rivers, so his mom wouldn’t worry about him when he rode.

He graduated from Enterprise High School in 1957 and approached his parents and expressed his desire to serve a mission. They were thrilled with his desire to serve the Lord. His mother told him, “I will scrub toilets to get you there.” Burnell was called to serve in the West Central States Mission. Early on he wrote in his journal, “I can see already, this will be my life.” It certainly proved prophetic. The rest of his life was spent in service to the Lord.

Amos Burnell Hunt was sealed for eternity to the beautiful Velma LaRea Waite on September 2, 1961, in the St. George, Utah Temple. They were married for nearly 61 years and Burnell gave his children the precious gift of loving their mother with all his heart.

Burnell taught seminary and institute classes for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 37 years. His assignments included teaching seminary at the Ogden Reform School and Weber High Seminary, coordinating CES programs in Indiana, and teaching institute in Cedar City, Utah. He loved young people, loved the gospel, and changed lives through his teaching – and matchmaking.

Burnell’s church service included serving as bishop three times, high council, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, and mission president for the Philippines Cabanatuan Mission from 1996-1999. The missionaries loved President and Sister Hunt and frequently came to visit right up to the day before he passed away.

Burnell is survived by his wife, Velma, his five children: Randy (Robyn), Curtis (Linda), Sandy (Eric), Lorie (Clay), and Shawn (Mandy), his 23 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and his brother, Val. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Jonathan and Agnes Hunt, his siblings Reed, Billie, Paul, and DeAnna, and his lifelong friend, Truce Truman.

The family would like to thank Maple Creek Hospice for their outstanding care, love, and support during the family’s time of need, especially Karen and Cynthia who were angels to Mom and Dad. The family also wants to express their deepest gratitude to members of the Spanish Oaks Ward for their great kindness, love, and service.

A viewing will be held on Friday, August 12 from 6-8 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home in Spanish Fork. Another viewing will be held on Saturday, August 13 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., followed by a funeral at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel located at 989 South Spanish Fork Parkway, Spanish Fork, Utah.

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11 Condolences for Amos Burnell Hunt

Condolences(11)

Lance Jackson says

August 5, 2022 at 1:56 pm

Burnelll was a great friend and mentor. It was a great blessing to serve in the stake presidency with him as his executive secretary and later as his bishop. I remember fondly making pies when general authorities came for stake conferences and sharing time in the Hunt home in Enoch. He was always kind and had caring things to say to everyone. I express my love and gratitude for him and wish the best for his family at this difficult time.

Kirk Turley says

August 6, 2022 at 12:53 am

To all the family, I send my deepest sympathy and love to you all. Your father was one of my heroes and I will never forget my time with him. Burnell will never really be gone, he is apart of each one of you. With all my love.

Gordon and June Smith and Family says

August 9, 2022 at 2:56 am

We were so sorry to learn of the passing of Grandpa Hunt. He was a great man and much loved and respected be all who knew him.

Roger Donohoe says

August 11, 2022 at 3:40 am

I just learned of the passing of my dear friend, Brother Hunt. I was in his class for 1 quarter in 1983. Nine years later I was in the CC institute and he walked around the corner calling me by name. As a newer convert, he was instrumental in helping me go on a mission and gave me an example of what Heavenly Father expected of His priesthood holders.

Mary C Ledbetter says

August 11, 2022 at 5:14 pm

Burnell Hunt has influenced my life since a Friday Forum devotional he gave at Snow College in about 1985.
I believe it was titled ‘You and Me Lord, All the Way”

I was able to get a cassette copy of his talk, which I listened to over and over.
Years later, I contacted the Manti radio station, somehow they found it in their files and sent me a CD of it.

I remember his story about his mother would scrub toilets to support him on his mission.
As well as other things he said in his talk.
His dedication to the Lord touched my life and will always be remembered.

Prayers of comfort to all.
Mary

REPLY
Richard Stephens says
April 8, 2024 at 12:40 am

Do you know of a way I could get a copy of that CD? I was taught by Brother Hunt when he was a stake missionary in Las Vegas.

Bryan Weston says

August 12, 2022 at 1:48 pm

It was always a blessing to work with Burrell in CES, with his love for those he taught and with his sense of humor and humility for himself and his efforts. May the Spirit of his example and love continue with his family.

Love, the Bryan Weston family

Rex D. Burton says

August 12, 2022 at 3:34 pm

We express our condolences to the family. We knew Brother Hunt through different church assignments and the Curtis Hunt family in Summit. We express our love to all the family

Diane Waite Bushman says

August 13, 2022 at 6:37 pm

Beautiful funeral service for a great man that we all loved! We wish we could have been there to see you all and celebrate his life, We are so grateful we were able to spend a little time with Aunt Velma and Uncle Burnell in May. They have both had an impact in our lives and we love them both!

Jeremy Young says

August 13, 2022 at 8:42 pm

I will never forget President Hunt. He was our Stake President in Enoch Stake, Enoch, Utah. We were also next door neighbors. Everyone talks about his sense of humor, and he had one of those humors. However, I remember times when I knew I was doing something wrong. He was a funny man, but he had a sternness about him as well, but it was out of concern and love he showed for me and my family. We are so ever grateful to have known President Hunt. Truly the world has lost a great man, but he will forever be with us and in our hearts and in our thoughts. And someone please tell the world to slow down. You all are making me feel old.

Richard Stephens says

April 8, 2024 at 3:14 am

I was taught by Burnell Hunt when I he was as stake missionary in Las Vegas. My art teacher, Willard Kowallis, invited me to dinner at his home, and as soon as the dishes were cleared they were replaced on the table with a flannel board, and I was receiving the first missionary discussion. At the end of that discussion, taught mostly if not all by Burnell, I was convinced of the truth of what I’d heard and wanted to be baptized, but Burnell told me that being convinced was not good enouth: that I needed to read the Bood of Mormon, pray, and get a testimony from the Holy Ghost.

At our next meeting, he asked me if I had been reading the Book of Mormon, and I said “yes/” He then asked how much I enjoyed the part about Brigham Young chasing the buffalo over the hill. It was his way of checking to see if I’d really been reading. (I had.)

Over the Easter break I fasted and prayed and read the Book of Mormon until I got a powerful confirmation from the Holy Ghost while reading in Alma.

After I was baptized, Brother Hunt used me as a fill-in missionary companion. It was wonderful training for a missionary-to-be. I remember one evening he put his hand on my knee and asked how I felt about having joined the Church. I told him I felt like a Little-Leaguer who had signed with the majors.

The last time I saw Burnell, my wife and I visited him in Ogden in his office at the Boys’ School.

A year and a half after I joined the Church I served in the West Mexican Mission. My wife and I were married in the Manti temple, and our three sons served missions (Korea, Portugal, and Spain).

I am grateful to have been taught by this wonderful disciple of Jesus Christ and remember him with great fondness.

Amos Burnell Hunt May 30, 1938 - August 1, 2022

11 Condolences for Amos Burnell Hunt