Doris Jean Hunt

Doris was born on October 24, 1932 to the late Jefferson Medley and Ollie Love Medley in Charleston, West Virginia. As the youngest of eight children, she delighted in designing new outfits for her dolls, sketching flowers from her mother’s gardens and painting colorful mountain landscapes. She was also a talented ice skater, water skier, crewel and textile artist and explorer of historic sites. At Dupont High School, Doris was a member of the county chorus, drama club, National Thespian Society, Maid of Honor to Miss Dupont and co-editor of the Panther newspaper.

Doris’ love of fashion led her to be selected as a model for the latest designs by Hurbert Givenchy, House of Dior Paris and Van Cleef. She appeared in many advertisements for local Charleston and Tri-State area boutiques and department stores like Stone & Thomas and The Diamond.

Destined to leave her Mountain State for a dual degree in Art and History at Mary Baldwin University, Doris was swept off her feet by a handsome aviator and WWII soldier. In 1951 she married the late George Franklin Hunt and embarked on a 60 year journey as a wife and devoted mother, or as she fondly stated, "First Officer of Adventure.” Boating, hiking the Greenbrier and New River Trails and traveling with family and friends were some of her most treasured memories. She loved meeting people and learning about their family history and often said, "every family has a novel in it."

Her passion for genealogy and historic preservation led her to become an active member and former 20 year Registrar of the William Morris Chapter (now Kanawha Valley Chapter) of Daughters of the American Revolution, a direct descendent of Colonel Thomas Bullitt and Charles Clendenin, for whom the city of Charleston, West Virginia was named.

Doris loved her career as an Archival Librarian Assistant at the WV Cultural Center, and throughout her post retirement maintained a global client database seeking her assistance in family research, books, legal documentation for deeds, land and mineral rights. She won outstanding Poetry award presented by National Society Daughter of the American Revolution for her poem entry titled, “Home” in 2009.

She was a devout member of Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of Sacred Heart.

Doris will be remembered affectionately as “Chef Supremo”, preparing endless gourmet feasts, including legendary meatballs with the “secret” sauce for family and social events, cheerleader at daughter Vicki’s basketball games and Teresa’s tennis matches, Dori the Explorer, “Belle of the Ball” at The Verena, and a great friend to many.

She is preceded in death by her late dearly beloved husband George Franklin Hunt and four-legged friend, Sammy. She is survived by two daughters Vicki Lynn Hunt (Betsy) and Teresa Anne Schaffner (John), and many much loved nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Warwick Forest, Dr. Kevin Wolf, Dr. Teresa McConaughy, Julie, Hope and Riverside Hospice for providing care throughout the years.

A memorial visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Stevens & Grass Funeral Home, Malden, WV. A Rite of Committal will be held at 10:00 am Thursday July 27, 2023 at Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, WV with Rev. Rayappa “Roy” Kurakula officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Williamsburg Botanical Garden, PO Box 1577, Williamsburg, VA 23187-1577 or Dayspring Farm (feed a friend), 942 Buena Vista Road, Cologne, VA 23181 in her name.

The online guest book can be accessed at www.stevensandgrass.com.