1950 – 2009
Woody Hunter, 59, died September 28, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida, from complications of diabetes, followed by a series of strokes and a heart attack.
He was born January 15, 1950 in Tulare, California to Arvie and Hazel Irene Hunter.
He joined the U.S. Air Force during the Viet Nam War era, where he first served on an Air Force aircraft investigation team and later with an intelligence squadron out of Upper Hayford RAF base in England. In the Air Force, he did investigative reporting and made many contributions to various base newspapers. Honorably discharged, he then returned to his former home in Medford, Oregon. Before settling permanently in Jacksonville, Oregon, he stayed a few years in Vermont and published a newspaper there.
He had a love for photography and photographed many weddings and special family events. His writing and newspaper skills developed in earnest while living in Jacksonville. In 1991, with the backing of the then Citizens Advisory Committee and the City, he was brought together with Ellen Armstrong, another journalist. They brought out the first edition of the Jacksonville Review in June, 1991, and it was a success for over 10 years. Both strongly supported causes, either political or personal, when they felt that something was not fair or restricted peoples rights or freedoms.
Woody liked to travel and take photographs. He went to Australia, China and many other places; some people called his travels “Woodys Walk-About.”
While publishing the Review, he also assisted his friend Linda Thrush in operating “Muffees Cafe” in Jacksonville for over two years.
He eventually sold his newspaper in 2006 to move on. After traveling to Arizona and New Mexico, he finally settled in Lone Pine, California, the gateway to the High Sierras and Mt. Whitney. There, he published the Territorial Review and took many photographs of the beautiful scenery there. His travels left him with a lifetime of stories and friendships but his best memories were of Jacksonville, Oregon. He missed the place and expressed remorse for leaving that part of his life.
Many people in Jacksonville will remember Woody walking or riding his special tricycle (for delivering papers) throughout town. He had stories to tell to everyone, a lot of it told with his unique humor. Woody will be missed, his true compassion for others, the spot he filled in many peoples lives and his quirky sense of humor most of all.
Sadly, Woodys last earthly travel happened to be to Jacksonville, Florida to visit with his longtime friend, Missy Dufee. His journey ended September 28 at Baptist Health Hospital, where he died from a number of complications brought-on by his years-long fight with diabetes.

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