Friends, family honor Claire Hunter at service

More than 75 people attended a memorial service and witness to the resurrection for longtime Longboat Observer co-owner Claire Hunter, who died Dec. 15. She was 84.

Hunter married her husband, Ralph, shortly after he founded the newspaper in 1978. The couple owned and operated the Longboat Observer together for the next 17 years.

The service took place Dec. 28, at Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian.

Tables of Hunter family pictures and Longboat Observer memorabilia that included former articles and Longboat Observer playing cards (the Hunters were avid bridge players) greeted attendees as they entered the church.

During the memorial service, the Rev. Bruce Porter called Hunter “a modest, sweet woman whose smile could light up a room.

“We give thanksgiving for her love of Longboat Key and the community,” Porter said.

Porter noted that Ralph Hunter chose the first reading for the service from the New Testament book 1 Corinthians, which says:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Although the Bible passage, Porter said, is meant to discuss spiritual love, he said it also was a testament to Claire and Ralph Hunters’ love.

“The Hunters were a team who co-founded a paper on this Key and had a deep love and respect for each other,” Porter said.

Guests shared memories of Hunter at a reception in the church fellowship hall after the service.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected]