Dr. Joe E. Hunter, age 88, passed away Friday, August 19, 2011 at Ashley Gardens in Mount Vernon, Washington.  Dr. Joe E Hunter, who spent his life serving the people of Sedro-Woolley, was born on January 16, 1923. He was raised in Sedro-Woolley, excelling in academics and sports.. He attended the University of Washington where he met the love of his life, Esther Louise Buckley of Bremerton. They were married the day before Dr. Joe shipped out to the Pacific Theater where he served in the cavalry as a mule skinner, followed by a stint as a tank commander and lastly as an officer in Okinawa, processing Japanese POW’s. Upon his return stateside, he continued his education at the University of Washington Medical School and started a family. He worked as a truck driver in Seattle and served his residency at Swedish Hospital. The family then returned to his boyhood home in Sedro-Woolley and Dr. Joe entered medical practice at Hunter Clinic with his brother Dr. Bob Hunter and Dr. Joseph McCann. He practiced medicine for over 40 years. He was no “Dr Welby”.  If you complained or were too hysterical, his noted instruction was, “Shut the hell up. You’ll live! It’s a long way from your heart”.  His favorite patients were the loggers and tarheels he cared for since they only came in when they truly needed help. He would stitch them up or set a broken bone, and then they returned to work. Dr. Joe never turned away a patient if they couldn’t pay and no preacher or their family ever paid for medical service at the Hunter Clinic. In addition, Dr. Joe was often paid in fresh eggs or fish. House calls were an everyday occurrence; he once delivered 3 babies on Christmas Eve. He was rich in friends, if not money. He loved to pace the sidelines on Friday nights at the High School football games as the team doctor for many years.He loved all his bird dogs, and they were his lifelong companions. Unless it was pheasant hunting, Dr. Joe never liked vacations away from Sedro-Woolley.

Dr. Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Esther; his brothers, Charles and Bob; and his parents, Dr. C.M. Hunter and Louise Hunter.

He is survived by his 3 sons, Geoff of Sedro-Woolley, John and Roberta of Sedro-Woolley, and Andy and Marianne of Mount Vernon.

Dr. Joe is survived by 7 Grandchildren, Amanda Gibbons of Great Falls, Joshua Hunter of Lynnwood, Ian Hunter of East Wenatchee, Adrianne Hunter of Seattle, Stephanie Hunter of Auburn, Jason Hunter of Burlington, and William Hunter of LaGrande. He is also survived by his 8 wonderful Great Grandchildren.

The family wished to extend special thanks to the staff at Ashley Gardens, and especially to Steve, for all their wonderful care.

No service will be held, but the family requests that Dr. Joe’s friends and patients remember him by sending a note with memories, tall tales, or stories in care of Lemley Chapel at www.lemleychapel.com

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