Hugh Vaughn Hunter

Hugh Vaughn Hunter of Boise, Idaho, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2019 in Meridian, Idaho at the age of 87.

Vaughn, as he was called, was born on July 4, 1932 in Heman, Idaho to Horald and Cora Wardle Hunter. He was Cora’s and Horald’s seventh child and fifth son. He grew up in Egin Bench, Idaho and attended Sugar Salem High School in Sugar City, where he was one of 54 young men in the state to receive the State Farmer Degree, the highest award that the state can bestow upon any member of the Future Farmers of America.

After graduating High School in 1951, Vaughn enlisted in the Air Force at the height of the Korean War. He started basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and finished at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was then assigned to Clark Air Force Base in Luzon, Philippines, where he served as a records specialist for the base Colonel. He served two years at Clark Air Force Base, where he gained a love for the Filipino people. His next assignment brought him back to the United States, where he served at Kirkland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico and finally at Indian Springs AFB in Nevada, where he observed the atomic tests. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in November 1955.

Early the next summer, Vaughn was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was assigned to the Southwest Indian Mission, which encompassed much of New Mexico and Arizona. He began his service in the Fall of 1956 among the Native American people of the Apache, Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni tribes and grew to love these people and their culture over the next two and one-half years.

On the first Saturday night in March 1965, Vaughn met Lois Jones of Rigby, Idaho at a dance in Shelley, Idaho. Vaughn proposed three weeks later, and they were married on June 18, 1965 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Vaughn and Lois lived in Rigby, Idaho for the early years of their marriage and then moved to Annis, Idaho in October 1978. They were blessed with four children: Candice Lea Mabey, Gregory Vaughn Hunter, Alison Stucki, and David Shawn Hunter.

Vaughn provided for his family as a farm machinery salesman. He joined Terreton Tractor (a John Deere dealership in Terreton, Idaho) as a partner. After selling his interests in this business, Vaughn founded H&H Equipment and continued his farm machinery sales until his passing. He loved farming and ranching and the satisfaction of a hard day’s work.

Vaughn always kept the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the forefront of all he did. He loved his family, his Savior Jesus Christ, and his Heavenly Father. He could always be found serving others and wore out his body in serving his family, his neighbors, and the Lord. In October 2000, Vaughn and Lois moved to Boise to be closer to family. They have been blessed with 20 grandchildren, 10 grandsons and 10 granddaughters.

Vaughn was preceded in death by his parents, Horald and Cora Wardle Hunter; his siblings, Lida, Horald Harvin, Charles Dail, Versal Heman, Rex Jay, and Cora Verba; and his daughter, Candice Lea Mabey. He is survived by his wife, Lois; his brother, Bruce; his children, Greg, Alison, and David; and his 20 grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2019, 10:00-10:45am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 3700 S. Maple Grove Rd., Boise, Idaho 83709. A funeral will follow immediately at 11:00am. Interment will be immediately following the funeral at the Melba Cemetery – 7205 Baseline Rd., Melba, Idaho.