Kim Hunter

(From Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home)

Kim Lynora (Peckham) Hunter departed this world on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at the age of 64 at her home in Aurora, Missouri, with her loved ones.

She was born June 7, 1960, at Axtell Christian Hospital in Newton, Kansas to the union of Donald Dean and Eva Lorraine (Smith) Peckham. She was taken to her first home in Towanda, Kansas. Other towns in Kansas were home, such as Garden City, Little River and McLouth before coming to reside in Sarcoxie, Missouri. Joining her family, her father’s brother, Larry Peckham and wife Mary and cousins, Lori, Leann and Greg. Also, our paternal grandparents, Bessie and Francis Lovelady of Neosho.

Kim’s family as a child included an older sister, Pam and a little sister, Jan. As a family they took annual vacations to New Mexico. Her mother’s family from Kansas later came to reside in Portales, New Mexico. She visited grandparents, aunt and uncle and cousins after her mother’s sister married Olan Worley, of Portales. Visiting her Worley family was a very wonderful part of each summer. She and her family were able to go to Portales and Ruidoso, a beautiful mountain town where the Worley family had a cabin with a mountain stream running behind. She loved making little wooden boats and would play for hours in the stream. Ruidoso, New Mexico was one of Kim’s favorite places. Also, while visiting in Portales, Kim taught her cousins about Chinese fire drills. Where you would jump out of the car…run around it, then jump back in at stop signs.

She graduated from Sarcoxie High School in 1978. She enjoyed being on the volleyball team as well as the Bear Mascot. She loved working at the Sarcoxie Swimming Pool with her best friend, Roxy. She could always get the darkest tan that was amazing. Roxy (Fieker) Turner is still her lifelong best and most wonderful friend.

After graduation, she attended MSSC in Joplin, Draughn Business College, Joplin, and later Flight Attendant School in Chicago, where she lived for two years. She married Phillip Hunter of Carthage in 1983. While living in Carthage, two daughters were born, Laura and Kirby.

She loved her daughters and their spouses, Laura and Lawrence Jahn and Kirby Hunter and Cornell Harbin. She was a loving grandmother to Beckett, Leighton, Cadence and Jordan (Maddie) who have a daughter on the way making Kim a great-grandmother. Kim is survived by her mother, Eva Lorraine Peckham, sisters, Jan Peckham and Pam Cunningham (Dan); niece Jenny Crawford and husband Shane, and their children, Sierra and Izzy; as well as a host of other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, father, Donald Dean Peckham and uncle, Larry Peckham.

She was very active in her grandchildren’s sports and loved attending their games. After her grandson, Jordan said he couldn’t hear her yelling for him at his football game, she made a “MEGA” megaphone, one foot diameter x five foot made from cardboard carpet roll painted by Jan. She propped it up on the fence at the bottom of the bleachers and yelled for Jordan…two weeks later megaphones were banned.

Her employment included Caseys in Aurora and Marionville, where she was awarded employee of excellence and outstanding service, receiving this award, twice. Her latest employment was Kum & Go in Mt. Vernon, where she worked several years. Her antics included making hats out of coffee filters for fellow employees, herself, as well as customers. She was a joy to be around and was always up to something. She had an extensive Batman Collection. It wasn’t uncommon for her to show up at family gatherings, such as Christmas wearing a batman mask and cape or a batman tee-shirt. This is why her grandchildren found it fitting to call her “Bat-Gran”, rather than Nana or Memaw.

She went to live with her mother and would often take her on road trips. Her mother was often treated to “back roading” by Kim and Jan. Both girls loved to drive for an adventure to wherever. They loved to go down roads they have never been, never afraid of getting lost, just looking for a beautiful sight to see. Finding cool barns, pretty houses, caves, eagle nests and beautiful streams. Kim was quick witted, off the cuff and was a unique humorist. She didn’t know a stranger. She could pick up on the fact that people were in need and would find ways to help them. It wasn’t uncommon for her to roll down the window and share what she had, with someone holding a sign.

She was amazing and one of a kind and was so fun to be around. She loved the Lord and enjoyed His beautiful creations she found in nature, whether it be hiking, a river or creek to wade or kayak, or the sighting of a colorful sunset that she loved to share with others. She had a very loving, caring and helpful spirit.

Funeral services for Kim are 11:00 am Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Freedom Christian Fellowship Church in Sarcoxie, with Pastor Moses Martinez officiating. Burial will follow at Gibson Cemetery in Neosho, MO. Visitation will be Monday evening grom 6-8pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Carthage Humane Society or any local animal shelter in care of the funeral home. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.housh-goodwinfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home in Sarcoxie, MO.