Jim Hunter

James “Jim” Matlee Hunter, 92, of Ripley, WV passed peacefully at his home on September 10, 2025.

Jim was born October 31, 1933 the son of the late Bob and Helen Hunter of Odaville.

He was preceded in death by his wife and life’s partner, Jeanne Staats Hunter, an infant son Robert Mark and a great-grandson Colby Kyer.

Jim is survived by his children Russ (Nikki) Hunter, Margaret Nester, Luke (Mitsy) Hunter and Rebecca (Mike) Duke; ten grandchildren Chris Hunter, Michael Hunter, Julia Hunter, Tori Nester, Rose Cooper, Sarah Kyer, Ryan Hunter, Amanda Hollimann, Abbie, Baagason, Mack Duke and nine great-grandchildren: Lilli, Zanya, Isaac, Ophelia, Finn, Clara, Hadley, Rylan and Lacey.

His Christian Faith was the strength of his life, he was a lifelong member of Calvary United Methodist Church (previously the Evangelical United Brethren Church), with a servant’s heart he served in numerous capacities including Sunday School Teacher, Worship Leader, Lay Speaker, Sunday School Superintendent and one of his great loves, a member of the choir. Oh, how he loved to sing, anytime and anywhere.

Jim was a proud lifelong resident of Jackson County and graduated from Ripley High School where he was a football standout and played basketball. He was an alumnus of Ohio University where he earned a Master’s Degree in Chemistry. He soon put his degree to work at “The Plant” (KACC) where he spent over forty years working at many and varied jobs in quality control, from a lab technician to chief product engineer. At a time when the county was growing, he served on the Jackson County Board of Education as President and member, the Jackson County Library Board and the Jackson County Health Department Board.

He had many diverse interests and enjoyed traveling and visiting the different National Parks and Seashores as a VIPP (Very Important Park Person), spending time with neighbors and friends at “the Lake”, playing cards or having dinner, Kith n’ Hill Plays, farming, vacations at the Outer Banks, visiting with family and Sunday afternoon family feasts.

True to his generous nature, Jim made the decision to donate his body to the WVU School of Medicine Human Gift Registry, contributing to education of future medical professionals.

A memorial celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Waybright Funeral Home on Saturday, September 20th. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Memorial service will start at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Calvary United Methodist Church Food Pantry, Jackson General Hospital Oncology Center or the Jackson County Public Library. Many thanks to the compassionate caregivers, Shelby Hall and Beth Mullins, each one God sent our way. Also, many thanks the Kanawha Hospice team of Angels. Online memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.waybrightfuneralhome.com