Irene Hunter

Mrs. Irene G. Hunter, 93 of Alpine, Texas passed away on January 5, 2015 in Pecos.

A memorial celebration of her life will be conducted at the First Presbyterian Church of Alpine, on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 1:00 PM. Her interment will be at the Elm Grove Cemetery, next to her husband, Charles.

Irene was born in Tye, Texas, to Claude and Leola Mauldin on April 7, 1921. She was the youngest of four children. She worked as a bookkeeper at Dyes AFB during WWII. She married Charles Mason Hunter on December 10, 1944, shortly after his return from the war where he was wounded when his ship was torpedoed. They lived in Abilene, Texas, where their three sons Ken, Ron, and Mike where born.

The family moved to Alpine in 1949 and started a photography business, "Hunter's House of Better Photography", located in the Holland Hotel. Their daughter Suzi was born in March of 1951. They operated the photography business until Charles' death on December 29, 1963.

Irene was left with four school-aged children, but she longed to be a teacher. The Rotary Club of Alpine gave her a full scholarship and she was able to graduate from Sul Ross in 1966 with her teacher's certificate. She taught school in Marathon, Marfa, and Balmorhea, retiring in 1986. She returned to Alpine and was active with the Presbyterian Church, and volunteered at the Sunshine House and the Museum of the Big Bend for many years. She frequently contributed her views to the Alpine Avalanche and other area newspapers, with her letters to the editor known as "Irene's Corner".

Irene is survived by her sons Charles K. (Ken) Hunter and wife Sharon of Pecos, Ronald M. (Ron) Hunter of Thailand, W. Michael (Mike) Hunter of Alpine, her daughter Mary Sue (Suzi) Belles of Alpine, 9 Grandchildren, 20 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great-Great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles, her two sisters Claudette Mauldin of Tye, Francis and husband Robert Hunter of Abilene, her brother William (Bill) Mauldin and wife Dorothy of Tye, and her son-in-law Kendall L. Belles of Pecos.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sunshine House, the Museum of the Big Bend, The First Presbyterian Church of Alpine, The Alpine Rotary Scholarship fund, or a charity of your choice.

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