The Rev. Elton “John” Lee Hunter, a longtime resident of Stockton, KS, age 82, went to be with his Lord on May 21, 2016. Elton was born to David and Celia “Dickey” (Burton) Hunter on November 13, 1933 in Rooks County, KS. He grew up on the family farm 6.5 miles west of Stockton on Old Highway 24. He started school at Webster through the 6th grade. He finished his education in Stockton, graduating from high school in 1951.

Elton joined his father farming, but also had jobs off the farm: garage mechanic, roustabout for oil man, mechanic at Ostmeyer, and the Rooks County Highway Department as a road maintainer. A certain gal caught his eye, and he married Lola Taylor on July 24, 1955 at Glen Elder, KS at the Methodist Church.

Elton and Lola raised 3 children on the farm until June 1976. Elton had changed his job occupation to lay pastor and had been assigned to a 3 church parish located north of Smith Center, KS. He served the Reamsville, Thornburg, Womer United Methodist Churches while completing his theology studies with Perkins School of Theology. After completing these studies he was ordained a Deacon of the United Methodist Church on May 25, 1982. Following this there were 3 more moves: Republic and Webber; Attica; and Protection, KS United Methodist Churches. He retired from the ministry in 1999, returning to farming on the family farm.

In 2002, Elton returned to the ministry as part-time pastor for Rose Valley United Methodist Church. For the next 8 years, Elton and Lola spent their weekends at Rose Valley parsonage and during the week on the family farm outside of Stockton.

Around April 2013, Elton and Lola moved to Stockton after selling the farm.

Survivors include: his wife, Lola; children Diane Hiebert (Dallas) of Rozel, KS, Vicki Strausberg of Wichita, KS, and Dwight Hunter (Gina) of Chattanooga, TN; and grandchildren David Hunter, Amy Hiebert, Dani Hunter, and Duane Hiebert.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Duane and Max Hunter; and sister Mavis Rabourn.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Stockton with burial following at the Mount Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 – 8:00 pm on Tuesday at the Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Memorials are suggested to Stockton United Methodist Church and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st Street, Stockton, KS 67669.