Shirley Ann Hunt
Funeral services for Shirley Ann (Clay) Hunt were held Friday, April 4, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Stringtown First Baptist Church with Bro. Joey Lansdale officiating. Burial was in County Line Cemetery in Pickens, Oklahoma with Brown’s Funeral Service of Atoka in charge of arrangements.
Shirley was born on December 16, 1948 at DeQueen Arkansas to proud parents Doyle (Chub) Clay and Mary Catherine (Reddick) Clay. The Clay Family was a proud part of the “ Traveling Timber Towns” collectively known as Clebit and they settled into the logging camp located near Pickens, Ok in McCurtain County. Doyle drove heavy equipment for Weyerhaeuser and Mary was a homemaker, so both occupations allowed Shirley and her brother Jerry and sister Pam to roam and explore the foothills of Southeastern, OK. They knew most of the roads, trails, creeks and rivers like the back of their hands. You would have been hard pressed to find them wearing shoes, but it was not out of the ordinary for them to be covered in dirt from playing or carrying around wild critters that Doyle brought home to them.
They lived a poor and modest life that revolved around God and their family. They cherished any trip they got to take to stay with grandparents or aunts and uncles and relished when family came to stay with them. The Reddick/Clay women were notorious for cooking huge meals and they loved to meet up for picnics on the banks of the Little River. Deer camp was also a huge family affair that they looked forward to as it lasted for several weeks and everybody went. It was not just a time for them to gather and fellowship, it was one of the main ways meat was harvested to provide for their family for the following year. Once the deer meat was sparse, they relied on fish they caught from the creek and from chickens Mary raised.
Shirley proudly graduated from Battiest High School and then spent a semester at Murray, quickly deciding college was not for her! She and her dad owned a general store together at Silver Creek for several years before she moved to Idabel to work as the County Commissioners’ Secretary for that area. It was there, at the courthouse, that she would meet the love of her life, Gary. They fell in love hard and fast and were married within six months. Shortly after, she followed him to West Monroe, LA where he attended preaching school at White’s Ferry Rd. While they were living in West Monroe they were blessed with twins, Shauna and Shammi in 1981 and a year later, Shelli joined their family; to say they had their hands full was an understatement! Still, by the grace of God they managed to get Gary graduated and he accepted his first preaching job at Lane Church of Christ; it was in this part of southeastern Oklahoma that they would spend the remainder of their marriage.
Once their girls were old enough to attend school, Shirley grew restless and started an in-home daycare as well as becoming a certified foster home for children with disabilities. It was there, in her home, were she developed lifelong friendships with babies and their parents alike. She loved feeding people and being in the presence of children more than anything else on earth other than attending church. So, if she could hold a baby at a church potluck it was the closest thing to hitting the lottery she’d ever know!
Unfortunately, she suffered some complications from a routine knee replacement in 2009 and she had to eventually stop taking care of children. Over the course of the next few years she had multiple surgeries, but eventually had to resign herself to an amputation, but her story was not yet done! If anything, she just started cooking more for people and took her role as a prayer warrior double-seriously. If Shirley knew you or even just knew you had a need, you can believe that at some point she’s lifted you up to our Father. She firmly believed in the saying, Love God. Love People. Live it!
She delighted in her family and loved ones. Being a grandmother just may have been her greatest achievement in life. That wheelchair has rolled many a mile to watch plays, ballgames, cheerleading events, FFAShows, awards ceremonies, baptisms… you name it!
As we all know, the one thing as certain as your birth is that you’ll eventually leave this earth, too. On April 1, 2025 , Shirley’s race was finally run. Surrounded by her children and grandchildren she took her last breath on earth and then, opened her eyes to her eternal reward.
She leaves behind to honor her legacy her husband of 46 years, Gary Hunt; her daughters, Shauna and David Harendt of Blue, OK, Shammi and Trevor Jackson of Centerpoint, OK , Shelli Ginden and her special friend Woody Foster of Atoka, OK, and Nina Hunt of Ada, OK, Chad Whisman of Quincy, California and countless other foster children and babies she raised in her home; grandchildren Jacob Harendt, Olivia Harendt, Analyce Jackson, Chaini Hunt-Ginden, Kayli Jackson, Dylan Keeler, Hadli Keeler, Claysen Ginden, Atlee Harendt and Lola Harendt as well as a host of nieces and nephews that she loved with every ounce of her heart. She was preceded in death by her parents, Doyle and Mary Clay, her in-laws Joseph and Geraldine Hunt, a brother Jerry Clay, a sister Pamela Edson and a sonin -aw, Michael Keeler. Casketbearers were Cody Erwin, Dustin Erwin, Zachary Clay, Broc Erwin, Tyler Bailey, Ricky Harder. Serving as honorary casketbearers were Danny Erwin, Roger Erwin, Don Clay, Lee Morris, Bob Holley, David Reddick, Bruce Beatty, Timothy Reddick, Gary McDonald, Claude Self, Nadine McDaniel, Debbie King, Robert Ginden, Roger Holley.
Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: browns@atoka.net. Please reference the name of the deceased in your correspondence.