Burial Date
Obituaries » Mary Ellen Johnson Hunter
Hunter, Mary Ellen Johnson, 91, a lifelong resident of Waterbury, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, died as peacefully as she lived, surrounded by family and caregivers at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin, not long after sunset on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Mary was born in Waterbury May 15, 1922, the daughter of the late Bert and Gertrude (Edwards) Johnson. On Oct. 5, 1946, she joined Roy George Hunter in a marriage that brought great joy. They raised their family in Waterbury. George, as he was known to all, died much too soon on May 28, 1972. Mary was a 59-year member of Queen Esther Chapter No. 7, Order of the Eastern Star, Waterbury Chapter, having joined the chapter with her husband on Oct. 20, 1954. Mary received two Vermont Grand Chapter appointments as grand representative of South Carolina (1996-1998) and Virginia (2012-2014). Mary also participated in food sales with the chapter and became locally quite famous for her homemade bread. Other memberships include the Waterbury Area Senior Citizens, he Waterbury Congregational Church, the Vermont 251 Club. In 2004, Mary founded the Waterbury Red Hat Red Roamers, serving as the Queen Mum. Mary is survived by her children Patricia Duda (Walter), of Bolton Valley, Michael Hunter (Maureen), of Acworth, Ga., and Thomas Hunter (Joy), of Haverhill, Mass.; three grandchildren, Meredith A. Howard (Donald Jr.), Roy Hunter and Margaret Hunter; her treasured great-grandson, Donald “Tripp” Howard III; a sister, Martha Anthony (Philip), of Berlin; as well as nieces, nephews and other extended family. Mary is also survived by a wide circle of best friends, neighbors and her special dog friend, Orion, with whom she played Frisbee, even in the final months of her life. In addition to her loving husband of 25 years, Mary was predeceased by her cherished son William Hunter; sisters Arabella Slack and Ivis Hickory; and brothers Dean Johnson and Carl Johnson.
