C.L Age - 83 Albuquerque/Española Hunter

C.L. Hunter was born in the beautiful Espanola Valley, a community that would forever steal his heart and where his love for the land and its people would guide the next 83 years of his life.\r\nC.L. passed away peacefully July 21. And though his passing was quiet, it was one of the few moments in his life that was so. For C.L. was never much for quiet. A man who knew how to pack a lifetime’s worth of memories into a day, it was hard to find him standing still. He always charmed his way to the front of the line, drove in the left lane and took the stairs two at a time.\r\n And to the man who never met a stranger, the hurry was always in the name of the people in his community.\r\n He spent much of his life encouraging growth in Espanola. He worked as a volunteer firefighter, city councilor, and Board member for Presbyterian Hospital. He was vice-president of the Plaza Foundation and a member of the Espanola Valley Chamber of Commerce. One of the original founders of and chairman of the Board at Valley National Bank, C.L.’s presence was also right up the road at Hunter Tractor Company, which he ran until the late 1990s. He also served as president of the New Mexico Auto Dealers Association during part of his 60 years as owner and operator of Hunter Motor Company.\r\n But even this passionate businessman, whose name will echo in the world he loved, knew how to take off his tie for the weekend. When he wasn’t mingling with friends and strangers in town, he was meeting them for hunting and fishing trips and evening poker games, or perhaps he was making new connections on the ski slopes and in the stands at Lobo football and basketball games. And even after the ripe age of 70, you may have caught him standing in line for a rollercoaster ride.\r\n While C.L.’s business savvy and extra-curricular activities were plenty to be proud of, what made his smile sparkle brightest was the mere sight of his family and friends.\r\n C.L was preceded in death by his parents, C.V. and Angeline Hunter, and brother Donald. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Beverly Gallegos and husband, Steve; Son, Don Edward Hunter and wife, Joy; grandchildren Clyde and Jeremy Hunter and Melanie Salazar; great-grandchildren Ariana Hunter and Caden Lukas (C.L.) Salazar Floyd; niece, Janice Hudnall; and honorary sister, Eloise Velarde.\r\n Friends and family are invited to participate in a celebration of C.L.’s life Tuesday, July 26 at 11 a.m. at DeVargas Mortuary in Espanola.\r\n The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff of Casa de Rosa Assisted Living and requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the facility, located at 10127 Guadalupe Trail NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87114. The family of C.L. Hunter has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.com

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