Bruce Alan Hunt

Our beloved Bruce Alan Hunt, 72, of Visalia, California, "graduated" to the heavenly realms on March 14, 2022, following a brief and valiant journey with pancreatic cancer. Bruce was an avid enthusiast of both mathematics and fruit pies, so he'd have loved knowing his eternal Home-going took place on "Pi Day." In spite of the extreme sadness and grief that encapsulates his family, they are simultaneously filled with peace and joy in knowing that precious Bruce now rests easy in the arms of his savior Jesus Christ. Bruce was born on June 6, 1949, in Tulare, California as the first born of three sons to proud parents Roy and Ennis Hunt (n�e Caudill) of Tulare. Bruce spent his first three years of high school at Tulare Western but due to an advanced level math course only offered at Tulare Union, he transferred for his senior year. After graduating from high school in 1967, the next few years were spent pursuing higher education at College of the Sequoias and Fresno State and serving in the United States National Guard. Bruce was a proud American Patriot his entire life and he always spoke fondly, and with great honor, regarding his time serving the U.S. military. Bruce worked in the Finance department for Central Valley Meat (CVMC) and Coelho Trucking Companies for over 40 years, serving as an accountant and Chief Financial Advisor. He maintained an impressive work ethic, a passion for numbers, and a deep sense of loyalty, throughout his career. Bruce dutifully commuted to Hanford, many times working 6 days a week and through major holidays, to help ensure CVMC's continued growth and success, all the way until his retirement in 2015 . In his early twenties Bruce married Linda McMillan, a union that produced his two biological children Derik and Alisha. Whether relatives came into his life by choice or by circumstance, family was always of significant priority to Bruce. He considered raising all three of his beloved children acquired by blood and by marriage (Derik Hunt, Alisha White, and Chelsea Searcy) amongst his greatest accomplishments of his lifetime. He also cherished his daughter-in-law Chelsey Hunt and future son-in-law Craig Hartman. Bruce treasured and consistently prayed for his brothers, Roger and Ken Hunt; brothers-in-law, Bill Scalf and Bryan Searcy; sisters-in-law, Anita and Gail Hunt, DeAnn Scalf, and Corie Searcy; as well as his many nieces and nephews acquired both by blood and by marriage. Although his first marriage came to an end, and no given family is ever without its own internal complexities, Bruce loved deeply and prayed fervently for all three of his kids and five grandkids, all the way to his final breath. In the year 2000, Bruce was overjoyed when he found the greatest love of his life, Marshella Searcy. He was so certain she was "the one," he even proposed on the first date! Two years later, they married off the coast of Italy and officially became a family with Marshella's daughter Chelsea. Through the years, Bruce and Chelsea developed a very close child/parent bond, both recognizing how fortunate they were to share such mutual love and respect for one another. Bruce and Marshella enjoyed an exciting and loving marriage full of adventures, laughter, and reciprocal admiration. Their shared proclivity for adventure, combined with their affection for anything with wheels, led them to gleefully participate in the Sierra Corvette Club for several years, take many coastal and mountain trips on their Harley Davidson motorcycles, and most recently in 2019, join a Mustang caravan on a cross-country trip in their convertible Mustang. Bruce lived his life feeling mostly bold, confident, and unafraid. He took great pride in being a card-carrying NRA member and loved going shooting on annual family trips to Arizona. He also had a vibrant passion for all things photography and cameras, and he was especially talented in various forms of computer graphic editing and photo shop. During the last 20 years of his life, Bruce was often found engaged in a latest project of helping someone scan, compile, or edit their photos for something. Any time spent on his computer or spent helping others with his "techie" skills was never considered time wasted, from Bruce's perspective. Bruce was in awe of, and dedicated his life to serving, his Creator. His favorite verse was from Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." Bruce was reverential and outspoken regarding his faith, and he unceasingly maintained a deep gratitude for the life-changing experience of becoming a spirit-filled Christian in the 1970's. He felt this re-birth had changed him into becoming a more selfless, forgiving, generous, and compassionate man. Most of the hand scribbled notes that Marshella and Chelsea have found these past few days scattered throughout Bruce's paperwork are of distinct reminders for himself specifying exactly what to pray for, for various loved ones in his life. He held a sincere and diligent belief in the positive and healing power of prayer. And when Bruce loved you, he loved you fiercely! Bruce also got a kick out of becoming heavily involved and opinionated with regard to American politics, a "hobby" that escalated through the years. His family liked to tease him that he loved politics so much he had even "played" for both "teams," having been both a democrat early in life and a republican later in life. Part of what made Bruce charming was not only his genuine candor, open heart, and kind eyes, but also how easily humored and quick to laugh he was. He had such a great laugh, too! It resonated with a deep, smooth, buttery sound that was equally hearty and comforting. Although he was an enigmatic man of many traits, all of Bruce's wide-ranging characteristics were built upon a solid foundation of unwavering integrity. He was never afraid to tell you exactly where he stood on any given subject. And while he was not one who would be quick to change his mind, he was a relatively good listener who was willing to hear others out. In spite of his natural inclination to be unabashedly forthright, he was an extremely lovable man who collected friends throughout his entire life that were of all different ages and from all different backgrounds and lifestyles. Bruce was well known to formulate close bonds with friends and "adopt" them into his life as if they were truly members of his family. His mind and heart were always selflessly focused on God and others, and it became readily apparent during the stint of his brief illness that Bruce had touched more lives throughout his lifetime than he was ever even capable of grasping. Even though there is nothing in the earthly world that can fill the significant "Bruce-sized hole" in their lives, his family can say with absolute certainty that Bruce would implore anyone reading this to work right now on filling any void occurring in their own lives by seeking first the love and friendship of Jesus Christ. He would encourage you to relish in the joyful miracle that comes from turning one's life over fully to a faith-filled spiritual walk with our wonderfully awesome, forgiving, redeeming Lord and Savior. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Bruce Alan Hunt, ever a good and faithful servant, will be deeply missed, remembered, celebrated, and loved... forever and ever! A private celebration of life memorial hosted by Marshella and Chelsea is set to take place at an undetermined future date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bruce's name can be made to Wounded Warriors or Paralyzed Veterans of America. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Bruce Alan Hunt

June 6, 1949 - March 14, 2022