Mary Ann Hunter-Hamilton

Mary Ann was born on June 28, 1930, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Dr. Paul C. and Estella P. (Beck) Kucher. She and her older brother, Jim, lived with their parents in downtown Fort Wayne for a few years before moving to a small house on five acres on Reckeweg Rd., where her father, a farm animal veterinarian, set up an office in a small outbuilding and her mother raised chickens and grew fruits and vegetables. There, Mary Ann’s love of gardening, animals, and the outdoors took hold.

She attended Anthony Wayne Elementary School and Elmhurst High School, graduating in 1948. During World War II, she spent summers with her mother and brother at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where her father, a colonel in the U.S. Army cavalry, was stationed. She had many adventures in the Southwest, including trips to Carlsbad Caverns and Juarez, Mexico, to watch the bull fights.

Following high school, she spent two years at Indiana University in Bloomington. In 1953, she married Fredrick R. Hunter. While Fred built a successful real estate business, she raised their three children and was active as a room mother, den mother, PTA president, and Sunday school teacher. She was also an active member of Tri-Kappa. Her selfless devotion as a wife and mother created a stable, loving, and enriching home life.

In the late 1960s, she began working as a Tearoom and special events model for L.S. Ayres. She made many close friends through modeling and hosted glamorous “model parties” well into the 1990s.

In the 1980s, she earned an associate's degree in interior design from Indiana University and later worked as a design consultant at the Decorative Circle and Foremost. At one point, she ran a design business in the house on West Jefferson where she lived as a child.

Mary Ann was giving of her time and kindness. As a Trinity English Lutheran Church member, she was involved with Stephen Ministries and the Mary Martha Circle. She tutored young students from the West Central neighborhood and volunteered her skills and time to redecorate the Indiana Senate Chamber and offices.

Mary Ann loved traveling. She explored much of the world with Fred and her family. Three years after Fred died in 1994, she married Kenneth F. Hamilton, and together, they continued traveling. While England and Europe were her favored destinations, she also visited China, Russia, Scandinavia, Israel, and Palestine.

Following Ken’s death in 2011, she devoted her time to her beloved grandchildren and her final furry companion, Leonard, her third standard poodle.

In addition to her husbands, Fred and Ken, she was preceded in death by her parents Dr. Paul and Estella Kucher, and her brother, James L. Kucher.

She is survived by her sons Matthew Hunter (Pam Chesney) and Mark Hunter (Christina Church), daughter Melissa Long, son-in-law David C Long, Stepdaughter Lisa Gray, stepsons David and Jeffrey Hamilton, Sister-in-Law Billie Jo Kucher, seven grandchildren, Meredith, Adam, Nicole, Mason, Erik, Camille, and Olivia, and eight great-grandchildren.

Interment at Lindenwood Cemetery has already taken place. A party celebrating Mary Ann’s life will be held later.

In Mary Ann’s memory, donations may be sent to St. Labre Indian School (give.stlabre.org) or Humane Fort Wayne (HumaneFortWayne.org).