Leon Wayne Hunter's Obituary
Leon “Wayne” Hunter, 80, of Dallas, Texas, was called home to our Lord on Friday, June 2, 2023.
Born August 11,1942, to Earnest and Mary Hunter, Wayne lived a life that honored God. He was a devoted husband, loving father, adoring grandfather, loyal brother, cousin, uncle and friend to all that knew him.
He was a graduate of Mesquite High School in 1960 where he participated in FFA, Drama Club, Annual (yearbook) Staff and remained a devoted Mesquite Skeeter until the end.
After high school, he followed his parents to west Texas and attended Texas Tech University where he met, courted and married his sweetheart, Judy Nichols. Together they celebrated over 59 years of marriage and raised two children, Diane and Michael.
After college, Wayne and Judy settled down in Mesquite, Texas, where Wayne worked as a service manager for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. He then retired as a tractor-trailer driver for UPS where he was lovingly known as “The Legend” (probably a name he gave himself).
Wayne will be remembered for his laughter, his storytelling, his heckling while playing card and board games and “42parties”, and his hosting of church parties and singings at his home. He also enjoyed showing off his collections of steins, stamps, coins, Remington statues, model boats, and souvenirs from his travels with family, friends and wife, Judy, across the U.S., Europe and their most beloved destination, Hawaii.
He is preceded in death by his father, Earnest William Hunter; mother, Mary Oleta Harder Hunter; sister, Roberta Dean Hunter Fyffe and daughter-in-law, Tamera Lyn LaManna Hunter.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Judy Lynn Hunter; daughter, Diane Hunter Ganze and husband Brent Ganze; son, Michael Wayne Hunter; grandchildren and great-grandchildren Megan Ganze and Jonathan Martinez and their children Melaine and Maya, Hunter Ganze and his wife Meagan Ganze and their children Mark and Nate; Cody Ganze and his wife Emily Ganze and their children Lauren and Carolyn; his sister, Brenda Smith; sister, Carol Overbeck; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will gather between 5:00-8:00PM at Restland Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
A Celebration of Wayne's life will commence at 10:00AM in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home. Interment in the Court of Serenity at Restland Memorial Park will follow.
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