Dorothy Hunt

Dorothy Josephine Cooper Hunt was born in rural Belle Plaine, KS on December 16, 1918. She passed away on May 5, 2023 at the age of 104 . Dorothy was the 7th and youngest child of Andrew Duvall Cooper and Nancy J. Brenton Cooper. She began country school 4 ½ miles north of Belle Plaine on the Mulvane Road, but moved to Belle Plaine where she completed grade school and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1936.

Following high school she attended Venus Academy of Cosmetology in Wichita where she became a beautician. She kept her beauty license for 60 years working mostly in Wellington and Belle Plaine beauty shops.

Dorothy married her high school sweetheart, Howard Newton Hunt, on August 31, 1938. They had two daughters,

Sharon Kay and Janelle Lynne. Dorothy stayed home to raise their daughters while Howard served in the US Navy during WWII.

Dorothy joined the Belle Plaine Methodist Church as a teenager and was active in Epworth League, Sunday School, W.S.C.S., Circle, and the church Building Committee. She was also an active member of Semperfidelis Club, Sumner County Historical and Genealogical Society,

Pitch Group, and Barner Center.

She endured many hardships and never questioned God’s plan throughout them. Dorothy's mother had the Spanish Flu while she was pregnant with her; we often joked that is why she had an immune system of steel. She lived through the Great Depression, wars, and the Dust Bowl. Dorothy was known for selflessly putting others' needs ahead of her own; she cared for numerous family and friends throughout her life.

Dorothy never passed up an opportunity to travel. She and Howard enjoyed numerous bus trips, Panama Canal Cruise, Hawaii, and a Farm Tour in Europe to name a few. She even cruised at the age of 99 to Alaska with her family. Dorothy loved sewing, hand work, playing cards, NASCAR and hearing from and visiting with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Hunt; daughters, Sharon and Janelle; grandson, Greg Maninger; her parents and siblings. She is survived by her son-in-law, Lynn Pritchard; grandchildren, Galen Maninger, Stacy (Mark) LaMourey, Amy (Chad) Stewart, and great-grandchildren, Mady, Brooke, Dathan and Kacy.

Dorothy was a strong Christian woman who unwaveringly lived out her faith.

A celebration of life will be held on May 9th, 2023 at 2pm at the Belle Plaine Global Methodist Church. The viewing will be May 8th from 6-8pm at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Futures Unlimited Inc. at 2410 N. A Street Wellington, KS 67152.