Nona Call Hunter

Nona Call Hunter passed away peacefully in her home in Lewisville, Idaho at the age of 99, surrounded by loving family on Sunday, December 20, 2020.

She grew up in a bygone era that is gone with the wind. She was born March 10, 1921 in Rigby, Idaho to Cyril Josiah Jr. and Mary Lavern Barker Call. She moved with her family to Davenport, Iowa where her father became a chiropractor and returned to Rigby. Nona’s first talent was using her miniature Singer sewing machine to make doll clothes. Sewing soon became a valuable asset. During the depression, she reused, remade, and remodeled clothing for family.

During her teen years she enjoyed being with friends, singing in a sextet, having leads in musicals, and teaching piano. She graduated from the eighth grade as valedictorian and from Rigby High School as the salutatorian in 1939, earning several scholarships.

In the early 1940s Nona filled her life with working in the clerk’s office at the Rigby Court House, attending Idaho State University, and dating and dancing at Riverside Gardens, a favorite Big Band touring destination. In 1942 she met and married Reed Hunter of Lewisville, Idaho. They were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. Nona made a difference. She was a force for good as she became involved in church and civic activities in the Snake River Valley. She rallied the citizens of Jefferson County to persuade the county commissioners to pave the first two miles of road outside of Lewisville, went house to house gaining signatures favoring a hot lunch program for the elementary school, and accompanied soloists, quartets, and musicals on the piano. She became an accomplished seamstress, making costumes for school plays, wedding dresses for neighbors and friends who could not afford to buy them, school clothes for her children, and hundreds of handiwork projects for the ward bazaars. She designed and made blankets for each of her descendants.

Nona was an active member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in the community all of her life. She served in the Relief Society and Young Women Presidencies, was ward organist from 1943 to 1975, served on the Idaho Falls Community Concert Board, was a member of the Rigby Study Club for over 70 years, and directed the Lewisville Centennial play in 1982.

She rarely missed an event of her children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren and hugged her great-great-grandchildren many times. She supported them all in recitals, performances, sports, Junior Miss programs, graduations, parades, blessings, baptisms and weddings, even traveling behind the Iron Curtain to watch several grandchildren perform.

Nona held dear her family and the eternal plan of happiness. She is survived by her children: Dr. Gary Hunter (Christine Wright) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Diana DaBell Webster (Byron) of Lewisville, Idaho, Mary Kay Tall (Dr. Roger) of Idaho Falls, Idaho, 19 grandchildren, 81 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren, siblings Barbara (Robert) Brown and Brent (June) Call.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Reed Hunter, her daughter, Barbara Jean (Steve) Archibald, her son-in-law, Wesley DaBell, and siblings Audra (Joel) Moss and Alfred (Karen) Call.  Due to COVID restrictions, the funeral was at the Lewisville Ward on December 23, 2020, for the immediate family.  In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent to your favorite charity.

Much appreciation is expressed to Kerry Eyerly for nine years of loving care. The family wishes to thank Eckersell Funeral Home in Rigby, Idaho and Solace Hospice.