| Graduation Year | Class of 1971 |
| Date of Passing | Sep 06, 2023 |
| About | Jeff Hunt, age 70, died suddenly on September 6, 2023. Jeff passed away after a night of jamming on the drums with fellow musicians, one of his great passions. Jeff was born March 7, 1953 in Yakima, WA to Max and Edythe Hunt. He graduated from Eisenhower High School, where he first discovered his love of music, drumming in his high school band. Jeff pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Washington State University and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Business Administration. Jeff had a successful career in the forest products industry, working for companies including Boise Cascade, Ketcham Forest Products, Weyerhaeuser, Lumbermens Pro-Build, and as Founder and President of Hunt Forest Products. Jeff moved to Bellingham in 1989 and spent decades contributing to and supporting the community he loved. Jeff served as President of Southside Soccer Club for nearly a decade and coached his daughter Heidi’s youth soccer team for many years. During this time, he proudly earned the title of "Coach Jeff," a role he happily performed again in 2021-22 while coaching his grandchildren. Jeff played drums locally at Birchwood Church and in several bands with his buddies, including Joel Young. He was a Cubmaster in Cub Scouts and an active parent in Boy Scout Troop 7; Jeff was proud when his sons Kris and Griffin earned their Eagle Scout rank. Jeff loved scuba diving and sailing, and found immense joy water skiing and barefooting at his home on Lake Samish. Jeff also snow skied into his 70th year and spent countless days at Mount Baker, where he volunteered as a Mountain Host for many years, with numerous friends including Judge Godfrey and The Howat Family. In 2017, Jeff married Anne Ellingson and they enjoyed years of love, companionship, and fun. Jeff was a gentle soul who always projected a warm, welcoming, and genuine presence. He was honest, dependable, and optimistic, and had a silly sense of humor; always quick to offer a joke and a smile. Jeff was well-liked by many and was often described as "one of the nicest guys I know." Jeff was a tireless and devoted father, going above and beyond to support and celebrate his three children in their own pursuits. Above all, Jeff prioritized his family and was a loving husband, brother, uncle, dad, and grandpa. Jeff was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Greg. He is survived by his wife, Anne Hunt, three children, Kris Hunt, Griffin Hunt (wife Amanda), and Heidi Hunt (husband Phillip), grandchildren Hogan, Lincoln, Lorelei, and Leona, brother Larry Hunt (wife Janet), Anne's children Nick Merth and Ben Merth (wife Misty), sister-in-law Sharon Smith, former wife Sandy Hunt (partner Mary Harvey), and many loving relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jeff's name to the Parkinson's Foundation (www.parkinson.org). A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held on Friday, September 29th at 1pm at Westford Funeral Home, 1301 Broadway, Bellingham, followed by a reception across the street at Westford's Broadway Hall. |
