Billy Jay Hunt

Billy "Bill" Jay Hunt passed away peacefully on August 15, 2026, at the age of 80. He was born in Anderson, MO on March 3, 1946, to James "Jay" Wesley and Hazel (Henson) Hunt. He was the middle child with his sister Pat Gardner and "big brother" to Rick (Tammy) Hunt of Missouri. He went to school in Joplin where he graduated from Joplin High School in 1964. Soon after, he served his country with honor in the United States Air Force until 1969. Following his military service, Bill's industrious spirit led him to a career as a machinist. In the late 1970s, with ambition and a dream, he moved his family to Arkansas and eventually opened his own machine shop. His dedication and expertise in his craft eventually led him to Eaton, where he worked until his retirement. Bill was an enthusiast of flying remote-controlled airplanes who also loved gardening and growing great tomatoes, feeding his ducks on his pond, and caring for his cats that he enjoyed in his later years. Bill also had a passion for tinkering in his shop, where he could often be found working on cars, tractors, and other machinery. His ability to fix anything with a motor was matched only by his willingness to help friends and neighbors with their mechanical needs. Bill is survived by his wife, Wilma Hunt; his children, James (Michelle) Hunt, Justin (Gayle) Hunt, and Bethany (Adam) Bunker; and his stepchildren, David (Amelia) Cook and Donna (William) Chambers along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. A celebration of life to honor Bill will be held this Saturday, August 22, at the home of Justin and Gayle Hunt at 205 Copperas Springs Rd, McRae, AR. Family and friends are invited to drop in between 5:30-7:30pm to celebrate and remember the life he lived. Bill was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, "poppy" and friend to many and will be greatly missed by us all.