She was proceeded in death by: her grandfather: Charles Minnick Hardwick; great grandmother: Reetha Watkins and her aunt: Kimberly Ann Hardwick.
Hunter, the daughter born unto the union of Terry and Kristie Watkins, was born on March, 06, 1997 in Dunn. She was a 2015 graduate of Triton High School. She was currently attending Central Carolina University where she was only six classes away from obtaining her associates of science in nursing and she had planned to work as an RN.
Hunter loved her family beyond anything. Her little brother Cameran was the light of her life. She devoted much of her time to him, they were as close as two siblings could be. She was without a doubt her daddy's little girl and her momma's best friend. If you had asked Hunter what the meaning of life was, she would have simply said "Ohana." Because Ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind.
She enjoyed family trips that were spent at the beach or going fishing and ice cream runs with her daddy. She loved to take photographs. It didn't matter how insignificant or silly, she wanted to capture each moment in her life as she treasured each day that she was given. She had never desired to be anyone other than herself. She was complex, a lover of all things wild and funky, such as her favorite color lime green, her mustang and the movie Lilo and Stitch. She loved to cook for her family always willing to challenge herself with new and out of the ordinary recipes. She loved music, of all kinds, especially Elvis Presley or anything that would make Cameran want to boogie.
Hunter, was a old soul. She had wisdom far beyond her time. She was very responsible, she always had a plan and a back up plan or two in case the first fell through. She didn't neglect to think a few steps ahead with each decision that she made. Her parents didn't have to worry about her as she had been the perfect child, respecting them and always obeying their rules, even as far as still following her curfew at the age of 21. She had been a good kid and had developed into a vibrant, beautiful young woman who held so much promise and could have did much good had she been allowed to imprint herself on the world in the years to come. She loved to care for others, she was so selfless that she didn't even realize how far she went for everyone else. If someone was down, Hunter was there to lift them up. She possessed a certain kind of kindness that is rare, never wanting to do any harm but always looking to make someone else's life a little bit better, and that she did, every life she touched was better because they knew Hunter.
Left behind to honor Hunter's legacy are: Her parents: Terry and Kristie Watkins of Dunn; her brother: Charles Cameran Watkins of Dunn; Maternal Grandparents: Tom and Martha Wrenn; Paternal Grandparents: Jerry and Joyce Watkins; and her high school sweetheart and loving boyfriend of over five years: Dillan Ray Matthews.
You are cordially invited to a time of visitation on Friday, June 8, 2018 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at the Cromartie-Miller Funeral home and at other times at the home of Hunter's grandparents at 2343 Hobson Rd. in Dunn.
A funeral service to commemorate the life of Hunter Kay Watkins will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at the Long Branch Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church located at 1013 Long Branch Rd. in Dunn with Pastor Phil Newton officiating. Burial will follow at Harnett Devotional Gardens with: Johnny Jernigan, Dewey Jernigan, Dishon Allen, Ash Cherry, Jonothan Jernigan and Joshua Jernigan serving as pallbearers.
All arrangements are entrusted to Cromartie-Miller Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.cromartiemiller.com
