Phillip Hunter

(From Simpson Funeral Home)

We celebrate the life of Phillip Martin Hunter, a beacon of love, empathy, creativity, and adventure. Born on November 5, 1954, in Carthage, Missouri, Phillip embraced life with open arms and a warm heart. His zest for living was infectious, and his spirit shone as brightly as the stars he loved to study.

A lifelong resident of Carthage, Phillip spent his entire life serving his community with his gifted hands and generous heart. He worked at Hunter Tire, as well as in numerous other occupations, including Display Tech at the Underground in Carthage, driving trucks for Yellow, Colaw RV Sales, and Priority Transportation. For a time, he also owned and operated his own tire alignment business Hunter Alignment just off the Carthage square.

Phillip was an adventurer at heart, always eager to embark on a new quest - whether hunting for arrowheads, watching eagles in Pineville, Missouri, or exploring his curiosity for mechanics. A man of many talents, his creativity shone through his work as an automobile mechanic. His knowledge of how things worked extended far beyond the garage. His passion for history, travel, and reading reflected his deep curiosity and lifelong love of learning.

He especially enjoyed reading Dee Henderson and Louis L’Amour, and one of his favorite books was All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. As the poet Walt Whitman wrote, “Every moment of light and dark is a miracle”—a sentiment Phillip lived by, finding wonder in every moment and every part of life.

Phillip was an intelligent, charming man who made friends wherever he went. He was endlessly generous and always willing to lend a hand. It was common to find someone’s car in his driveway, with Phillip helping them fix it. A gifted problem solver, he loved understanding how things worked - and helping others do the same.

Phillip loved God, loved people, and was passionate about helping others in recovery. He dedicated his time to Spoken Word Ministries, a motorcycle ministry where he touched countless lives with his empathy, humor, and wit.

Family was Phillip’s heart and joy. His love and kindness were constant in his interactions with his daughters, Laura Jahn and Kirby Hunter. He was a devoted father who listened without judgment, shared stories and wisdom freely, and never missed a chance to tell a corny dad joke.

Phillip was preceded in death by his parents, James Irving Hunter, Jr. and Patricia Jean Hunter of Carthage, Missouri; his grandparents, James Irving and Luverne Hunter of Carthage, and Martin and Helen Hauan of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his grandfather, Charles Phillips of Orlando, Florida; his aunts, Charlene Bliss Phillips Griffith of Winter Garden, Florida, and Sally Anne Hunter of Carthage, Missouri; and his cousin Brian Hunter of Carthage. He was also preceded in death by the love of his life and former wife, Kim (Peckham) Hunter.

He is survived by numerous friends whose lives were touched by his warm spirit; his daughters and their spouses, Laura and Lawrence Jahn and Kirby Hunter and Cornell Harbin; his brother James Irving Hunter IV and wife Cheral Hunter; his grandchildren Jordan Meyer (Madison), Beckett Jahn, and Leighton Jahn; and his great-granddaughter Peyton Meyer. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews Kelly Hunter Foster, Alyssa Hunter Hess (Zach), Christopher Hunter, Stephanie Franklin (Tim), and Chase Hunter (Kylie); his uncle Elliott Hunter (Jana) of Carthage; his aunt Georgine Phillips Hall of Winter Garden, Florida; and cousins Amy (Sawyer) Parish (Rusty), Scott Sawyer (Jana), and Chalaine (Hunter) Bell (Jeff), along with numerous other beloved family members.

As Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Phillip got started -and never looked back. He lived by the words, “Rough and tough, and hard to bluff.” His life was a testament to the power of love, curiosity, and adventure, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 15th, at 1:00 PM at Three Points Church, 17837 Old 66 Blvd, Carthage, MO 64836.

Services are under the personal care and direction of Simpson Funeral Home. The family encourages relatives and friends to visit www.simpsonfh.com to share photos and memories of Phillip.