Lorine Hunter

Lorine Hunter--affectionately called Rene, Aunt Rene, Grandma and GiGi, was born to
Ollie Mae McNair and Earle McNeary in Wilmar, Arkansas on a warm, humid day in
August of 1932. To that family was also born Lorine's brothers, Dallas and Joseph, and
sisters, Corrine and Eloise, each who preceded Lorine in death. She completed
elementary and high school in Wilmar. She married Charles Hunter of Stephens,
Arkansas in 1950, and to their family, four adored children were born: Doris Faye,
Patricia, Albert, and Lynda. In the summer of 1957, she and Charles moved from
Arkansas to Los Angeles, California in hopes of providing more resources, stability, and
educational opportunities for themselves and their children.

Those hopes were deferred because of the unexpected death of her husband,
Charles, in 1964. Instead, Lorine faced challenges and new opportunities for her and
her moderate family. However difficult the situation, she faced those challenges and
rose to the occasion all while raising her four children. Similar circumstances may have
defeated others, but not Lorine. She completed her nursing license and began working
at Daniel Freeman Hospital as a licensed vocational nurse. Soon after, she pursued a
license as a physical therapy assistant to better care for her family. She received
various awards for her strong work ethic and dedication. She eventually retired from
DFH in 1994.

Lorine was a committed and loyal member of the Normandie Avenue United
Methodist Church in Los Angeles until she returned to Camden, Arkansas in 1998. She
then joined the St. James AME Church, led out in Bible studies, and volunteered for
various community activities, including those organized by the Camden chapter of the
NAACP.

Lorine was no stranger to disappointment and loss. Of her four children, three
preceded her in death unexpectedly: Albert (2010), Doris Faye (2018), and Lynda
(2019). Despite the great sadness and deep grief that only a mother could know and
feel, Lorine remained the strong, resilient, and steady matriarch that she had been since
Charles' death decades earlier. She learned at an early age that God was the creator
and author of life and death, and she trusted that He knew what was best.
Brokenhearted but determined, Lorine regained her focus and continued life with an "as
the Good Lord sees fit" attitude and resolve. Her grandson and others often marveled
and remarked, "She is the strongest person I've ever known!" And she was...
Lorine found joy spending time with her family and close friends and engaging in
her favorite activities. Those included spoiling her grandchildren and great-
grandchildren, shopping for others, keeping an immaculate home, working on puzzles,
watching authentic western movies, and reading. She also enjoyed trying her hand at
playing "a few pennies" every now and then.

Her family, friends, neighbors and all those who knew and loved her deeply will miss
her strong sense of family, enduring strength, warm smile and mischievous sense of
humor. Those she leaves to mourn her absence, but remembering always in their
hearts, are her daughter, Patricia Hunter of Banning; stepson, Jerry (Louise) Hunter of
Camden, AR; son-in-law, Ed Cooper of Las Vegas, NV; her grandchildren, DeJuan,
JaVon, and LaShanda Cooper, Daphne Hunter-Rakes, and Robert Murphy; as well as
great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many other family members and friends.

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