Carey Vivian Hunt, 80, passed away Friday, March 18th, 2022 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.

Her celebration of life service will be held April 2nd, 2022 at 11:00 am at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason St., Onalaska.  Pastor Steve Ware will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

She was the daughter of John R and Georgia Mae Mill.

Surviving is her husband of 64 years Jack Hunt, Son; Timothy Hunt, Daughters; Jackie Fowler, Carey Jennings and Patti Hunt.

She was preceded in death by both parents and her son, Mickey Hunt.

She will be missed but never forgotten.

The service will be live-streamed through Zoom, which can be viewed using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87949227931?pwd=WjZDTk9acmNpd2JxODZHdkxvMmhSZz09

Celebrating the Life of Carey Vivian Hunt

March 11, 1942 – March 18, 2022

A collaboration by the Hunt Family, written by Patti Hunt

Loving You Always

“…Above all, I Love you my Darling.” -Jack Hunt 1958 love letter excerpt

I want to tell you about a love story.  Not a typical love story, a lifetime of love…story. 

Love story began 1958 – Meet Cute

It all started at the Carolina Roller Rink, 40 miles down the road from the Air Force base, where Dad was stationed.  Mom, just 16 years old, later described by my Dad as “too classy for him” would often go to the roller rink with family, particularly her brother.  Dad, was a regular at the rink, and let’s just say…had no problem getting a skating partner.

At the rink, everyone knew each other.  My Mom, Vivian, as she was known in the south, where your middle name is often used instead of your first.  Well, she actually made the first move on my Dad!  She’d seen him before, and I believe it was love at first site.  As Jack was skating by, Vivian pulled a scarf out of his back pocket.  Jack didn’t pay much attention, thinking, “she can keep it”.  He actually thought she was with another guy, he didn’t know at the time that the other guy was her brother.  Jack himself was dating another girl, and that night had a date to go to the beach with her.  Vivian, persistent to meet Jack, skated over to him to bring back the scarf.  Dad would later say that he thought Mom was “out of his league”, which is why he didn’t skate to her first.

Later that night, Dad was about to leave with his date, and he saw Mom and asked if she needed a ride home.  Yes, said Mom.  Dad went back to the other girl and broke his date.  As Dad describes it, “after that ride home, that was it, we’ve been together since.”

Love story grew 1959 – Family

A year later April 5, 1959, Carey, 17, and Jack, 22, were married in South Carolina.  They lived on the base for the first 9 months of marriage, while Dad carried out his remaining time of active service in the Air Force.  There were times when they had to be apart, yet their love was strong, as was depicted in a love note written to my Mom in one of those times, “To Vivian, the most wonderful sweetest girl and wife in the whole world.  I send you all my Love and the Good Lord will bless us now and all eternity!  I love you my sweetheart, Jack”

Mom’s love for her Kershaw, South Carolina family was strong, and she enjoyed spending time with them while Dad served.  Mom, Vivian, one of seven children, has shared so many wonderful memories of life growing up with her Mom and Dad, sisters Juno, Sharon, Linda, and brothers Jerry, Thurston, and George.  Their bond and love for one another was strong, as is the treasured quality with southern families.  Her younger brother George, in fact, later would follow her up north where he started a family in LaCrescent with wife Helen, and kids Darcy and Leslie.  I will add, that George’s love and care for Mom, likely extended her time with us, due to the life improving accessible carpentry he, along with my Dad, so lovingly installed at home over her final years, as well as his joyful Friday game nights and companionship he always prioritized with his sister.

In 1960, Mom was working as a sewing machine operator at a local company in South Carolina when Dad was released from active duty after four years of service. They decided to head north and moved to Chicago, IL. Dad’s family resides in Decatur, IL where Dad grew up with fond memories of the Midwest with his Mom and Dad, and sisters Mary, Elizabeth, Barbara, and brothers Charles, Eugene, and Bill.

Upon arriving in Chicago, my Mom and Dad both took a job at Zenith.  Mom worked on the assembly line, while Dad worked in the testing department on TV’s and remote controls.  Three promotions in the first year provided good stability and they were ready to start a family of their own.

Love filled the household, as between 1962 to 1968, they were blessed with five children in six and a half years.

1962 – Jacqueline Brenda, born in Chicago, IL

1964 – Timothy Raymond, born in Decatur, IL

1965 – Mitchell Scott, born in Decatur, IL

1967 – Carey Diane, born in Decatur, IL

1968 – Patricia Elaine, born in Columbia, SC (Family had moved back to South Carolina for a year)

Dad’s military roommate Monty, whom Mom and Dad enjoyed double dating with after they’d met, and became one of Dad’s closest friends, even to this day, was living in Minnesota with his wife Beverly, and painted a beautiful picture of the area, cooler temperatures, lakes, seasons, family friendly communities.  My parents took a leap of faith, and moved our family of seven to LaCrescent, MN in 1969.  One day after they moved, Dad was hired by Eversole Motors, the start of a long career as an auto body repairman, which eventually led to working for Jim Carlson’s Auto Body Shop in Holmen, which holds many fond memories for our family.

In 1972, Mom and Dad were ready to buy a house of their own after hardworking jobs along the way prepared them to plant roots for the family.  A realtor guided my parents on the ideal location to raise a family, outside of town, in the country, and suggested a new development in Holmen, outside of LaCrosse, WI.  At the time, there were only three houses in the neighborhood, having been a farmland, there were dirt roads with tumbleweeds, and cows would graze through the development.  My parents had their pick of the lots, and selected to build a house on the hill, at 1612 Cliffview Drive, later to be known as “Hunt’s Hill”.

Hunt’s Hill brought a lifetime of favorite family memories.  Mom was always a hardworking woman, having worked in cotton fields as a child, and in factories as a youth, so she made sure us kids had everything that we needed, and to do that, it meant working many jobs, up to 3 at times, and as did Dad who had as many as 4 at times, at their peak.

Us Hunt kids were all involved in school and community activities, and my parents encouraged that, and were right by our side, driving us to and from sporting events, color guard practice, school plays, choir practice, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, parades and pageants, etc.  Mom was a Cub Scout Leader and Dad was a Webelo Leader, the boys were in Cub Scouts and the girls were in Girl Scouts.  Mom also ran a neighborhood ceramic shop out of our garage, that my Dad and Uncle George built, along with multiple home expansions and decks.  The popularity of the ceramic shop quickly grew with the neighbors, and soon kids and Moms would all come to weekly classes, painting and creating beautiful artwork for their families.

Mom was a talented painter, and Dad a talented sketcher.  Creativity was rich in our household, and is present in all us kids, but I must say the pinnacle is within our brother Tim who inherited both of their artistic talents and is by far the best artist I have ever known.  In addition to ceramics, Mom also quite the entrepreneur, always finding ways to provide for the family.  Sold Avon, had parties with the other Mom’s selling Tupperware, Home Interior, and Tri-Chem Painting kits.  On top of all of this, Mom had a day job as a sewing machine operator at Jack Winters, to which her sewing talents took her into her later years where she would enjoy quilting and would FaceTime with her sister Linda who would be quilting in South Carolina.  Maximize your down-time I always say, that’s the only way you can take on more, well Mom instilled this quality in us children, as evidenced by the fact that night’s growing up she would work the night shift at Northern Engraving.  This example Mom, and Dad, set for us kids to work hard, be independent, earn your keep, and always love one another, has been such a blessing for us to pass on to our children.

At the age of 42, Mom’s next legacy was about to begin.

Love story expanded 1984 – Grandma Carey’s Daycare

Grandson Billy joined our family fulltime in Holmen at the age of two.  With half of us kids out of the house by then, Mom and Dad sprang into action, doing what they do best, creating structure, joy, and beautiful memories.  Bill would not realize until later the immense positive impact he would make on not only their lives, but on the lives of approximately 124 children and families in the years to come.  As Mom started her daycare business with the sole intention of giving Billy playmates in the home.  Beginning with a few regular children, such as Sam, Jodi, Jenny, Autumn, Michael, Tyler, Kyle, Travis, Jake in the early days, and then welcoming Angel, Alex, Britton, Chris, Mallory, Jessi and others over the years.

Then in the early 90’s even my son Taylor joined daycare.  He always had a special bond with his grandma.  Mom cared for Taylor from birth, which she was present at, through his first few years.  What Mom didn’t realize at the time was that she was paying it forward, as Taylor, who ended up living in Arizona with me, would have a calling four years before her passing, and ended up making the journey home, to be close to his Grandparents to care for her, in her final few years until her death.

As Grandma’s Daycare moved further into the 90’s and 2000’s then came children Aliah, Paige, Hunter, Melissa, Carli, Gunnar, Tyson, Ben, with many between, and finally Lexi with her baby sister Isabella… and before we knew it, Mom had built more than a thriving daycare business of 29 years, but she built a community…Grandma Carey was a legend.

My Dad, having led his own legendary career, finally retired at age 70, and before we knew it, he began his next most important career, as Papa Jack, Activities Director for Grandma Carey’s Daycare.  Papa Jack was in charge of outdoor activities, such as wagon rides, swimming pool wading, and had a leading role as the artist for arts and crafts time, as well as birthday cake maker for the 124 birthday celebrations through the daycare years.  If you asked the mothers Kim, or Jimmie Ann, or Jen, or Patty, or Sherri, etc.  they would tell you that due to the early childhood potty training, sleeping routine, reading, walking, writing, counting, socializing, and love their children received, their children have achieved early academic successes, developed confident self-esteems, built strong interpersonal relationships, and have thrived, along with their families, due to the joy, stability, and love of Grandma Carey’s daycare.

This will come as no surprise when I tell you, that Mom would not say no when a family needed her to care for their child, nor would it surprise you to know that Mom never advertised her daycare business it was all word of mouth and referral, and nor would it surprise you to know that Mom only charged a third (at the most) of what the going rate of any daycare provider was at the time.  What won’t surprise you the most is the fact that Mom continued her daycare business until the doctors told her she needed to instead care for herself, as her own health was failing.  This was not easy for Mom to process, you see, Mom’s entire life she been the wind beneath others wings, as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a daycare provider, that was her gift to us all, in fact every person that is here today has been graced with Mom’s wind, her love, her touch.  So as you think of Carey Vivian, I think of her grandson Billy, who shared “it’s not a specific memory, but the lifetime of memories, that I want to thank her for.  I wouldn’t be who I am today without her, and Grandpa, and I am so thankful.”

We will Always Love You Mom, Vivian, Carey, Grandma Carey.  Enjoy your eternal life in the gardens of heaven with your son Mickey, Grandma and Grandpa, sister Juno, grandson Seth, friends Carol, Connie, Millie, and all your other family and friends before you.  May you all play games and watch the hallmark channel embracing.  Watch over us and visit from time to time in your cardinal vessel.  We love you and we will be looking up to you, as we will someday follow you home.

Thank you for a Lifetime of LOVE! – Your adoring Hunt Family