Eleanor Broyles Hunting

Eleanor Hunting died as she wished, at home in the care of her family on July 2nd at age 99. Eleanor May was born on April 27, 1917 to Lucien and Ida Broyles in Plaquemine, Louisiana at her grandparent’s home. When she was about five years old, her family moved to Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley in southern California where her father was a high school teacher, principal, and farmer. She helped her family by picking and packing produce to sell at the family farm stand. After graduating from high school, Eleanor attended the University of California at Los Angeles where she graduated with a Bachelor of Education. For three years, she worked as bookkeeper/office manager for a small newspaper and at the beginning of World War II she moved to San Francisco and worked as an accountant, auditor, and director of a large Sunday School. On August 13, 1944, Eleanor married Leonard M. Hunting who had custody of his nine year old daughter Joan from a previous marriage. Eleanor and Len went on to have three children together Duane, Elaine, and Diane. The couple moved to Tacoma, Washington, SW Portland, and eventually settled in their home in NE Portland where Eleanor lived for 65 years.

Eleanor spent many years as an educator. She was the Director of Religious Education (DRE) in the cities where she resided for a total of fifty years. She was an elementary school teacher for twenty years for Portland Public Schools.

Throughout her life, Eleanor was extremely active in her community. In 1945 in San Francisco, she was present at the founding of the United Nations and from then on, she was a passionate supporter of the UN. She was active in the United Nations Association of the USA, the Liberal Religious Education Directors Association, the Oregon Association of Childhood Education International, the Portland Women’s Forum, the Oregon Retired Educators Association, the League of Women Voters, and many other humanitarian causes. In 1956, she and husband Len helped found Eastrose Fellowship Unitarian Universalist where she was DRE and Board President, in addition to other volunteer positions over the years.

Eleanor is preceded in death by her three brothers Glenn, Gene, and Ken Broyles, her husband Reverend Leonard M. Hunting, her son-in-law Ray Breda, and step-grandson Duane Nelson. Eleanor is survived by her children: Joan Breda of Seattle, Washington; Duane (Shari) Hunting of Camas, Washington; Elaine (Pete) Nelson of Beaverton, Oregon and Diane (Baer) Charlton of Portland, Oregon, eight grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and one great great-grandson.

A memorial service will be held at Eastrose Fellowship Unitarian Universalist, 1133 NE 181st Ave, Portland, on Saturday, July 23rd at 1pm.

Memorial Donations in Eleanor’s memory can be made to:

Eastrose Fellowship Unitarian Universalist, 1133 NE 181st Ave, Portland, OR 97230

United Nations Association - Portland Chapter, 6786 SW 204th Ave, Aloha, OR 97078

Portland Women's Forum (preservation and beautification of the Columbia Gorge), 33702 E. Bell Rd, Corbett, OR 97019