Lawrence ' LJ' Hunter

Memorial service for Gillette resident, Lawrence Junior (L.J.) Hunter, age 82, will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church with Reverend Peggy Brown officiating. Private interment will follow at a later date at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. L. J. passed away January 13, 2009 at his home of natural causes. He was born April 22, 1926 in Sheridan, Wyoming, the son of Lawrence Allen and Mary (Greub) Hunter. While attending high school in Gillette, he became ill and was sent to his uncle William Greub, s Piney Creek Ranch for a while. He graduated from Campbell County High School and attended college at the University of Wyoming where he met Frances Meroa Thomas. They were married August 4, 1946, settling in Buffalo, Wyoming where he worked at a lumber yard as a glazier. Later they moved to Cheyenne where he managed the WYOTT Manufacturing Company. In 1963 the family moved to Gillette and with George and Althea Hunter operated Hunters Drug until the pharmacy business was sold to Deckers. He worked as a business manager for Gambles Furniture and enjoyed doing mine sales for Powder River Office Supply until retirement. L.J. served as a Wyoming State Legislator representing Campbell County from 1975 thru 1980. He was a past president of the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce, Member of National Federation of Independent Business, SBA Advisory Council, Campbell County American Red Cross Board, Campbell County Recreation Board, the Gillette Kiwanis, IOOF Lodge, Wyoming Judicial Supervisory Commission and The Board of Examiners for the Plumber and Electricians for the City of Gillette. An avid outdoorsman, he loved to fish, hunt and go camping. He was mechanically gifted and could repair almost anything from automobiles to toasters. While working at WYOTT Manufacturing Company, he helped invent a patented plastic valve which was used in the original WYOTT cream dispensers. L.J. is survived by three sons, Charles A. (Julie) Hunter of Cheyenne, Wyoming; William T. (Sandra) Hunter of Gillette, Wyoming; Richard L. (DeDe) Hunter of Lander, Wyoming; daughter, Patricia A. (Henry) Liebsack of Sundance, Wyoming; a beloved foster son, Onje (Marion) Erfan of Northglenn, Colorado; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, two brothers, George E. Hunter of Gillette, Wyoming; Glenn E. (Marie) Hunter of Littleton, Colorado; sister, Roberta J. (Warren) Bradbury of Texas; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years Frances, and his parents. Memorials have been established in L.J. name to benefit the Presbyterian Church of Gillette, or the Campbell Co. Senior Citizens Center and memorials can be sent to Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences can be sent via the internet at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com.