Marilyn Dawn Hunter

As for family, she was the middle daughter of Claude and Mrytle Riffenburg. Born in Ann Arbor, MI with two sisters – Susan and Sharon. The family moved to southern California when she was young where she grew up.

Mom met her future husband, my dad – Douglas, in March 1958 near the end of their first year of Bible college. They married that summer on June 27, 1958, and celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary just days before she passed.

After the wedding, they moved to Arizona, where dad had been raised and from where he had come to attend Bible college. They initially lived in Bisbee, where I was born, and dad worked in the underground copper mine. Following an extended strike at the Bisbee mine, they moved to Tucson where my sister, Sherry, and a few years later my brother, Gregory, were born.

In addition to us three children, mom had six grandchildren: my two, Megan and Jonathan; Sherry’s three daughters, Stephanie, Michelle, and Christine; and Greg’s daughter, Sierra. And four great grandchildren: Hayley, Eliza, Joanna, and Wade.

Family played a central role in who mom was. She had so much love to give, and I believe no matter who you are, whether her beloved husband, son or daughter, grandchild or great grandchild, or even just one of friends you would agree that you were loved by her.

By today’s standards, mom may not have accomplished much. She didn’t finish college, leaving after only one year to marry dad and begin a family. No career to look back on. But then, mom was not one to pursue worldly accomplishments. Instead, she dedicated her life to caring for her family as a real “homemaker”, providing for our needs and ensuring we were well cared for.

I would like to share two childhood memories that illustrate the length and efforts mom took to make sure we, as a family, had what we needed. In the early years of their marriage, dad had worked in the copper mines of Arizona, first in Bisbee and then outside of Tucson. My memories of the mines, at least from the 1960’s, was that they tended to have a lot of strikes. During these various periods of unemployment, dad would get odd jobs whenever and wherever he could. But obviously, it did not cover the loss of income. So, mom stepped up and began to work outside of the home while we kids were in school. Of course, she also maintained all the household requirements like fixing dinners and caring for us and the house.

At the time, as a child, I didn’t know how dire the circumstances were or the limitation of resources. I remember mom working, in fact on non-school days, I would ride with her and helped deliver the MLS paperwork (real estate notices) to numerous Real Estate offices in town (this was before the internet and email). I also remember one of my favorite meals was cornbread pancakes with white Caro syrup. She would cook them up with crispy edges and we were convinced we were eating a special treat. It was only a few years ago, now as a father and grandpa myself and knowing what it takes to care for a family, that I asked mom about that meal. She admitted to me that was all we had to eat so she decided to try to make it special rather than complain about what we didn’t have.

I also remember that we, her children, always got a new set of clothes to start a new school year and for Easter, even if she didn’t. My memories from childhood were and remain, a house where we were cared for, had everything we needed, and a mom who was always there and loved us very much.

The second thing I think of that defines mom is her faith. She was raised by Christian parents and trusted in God from an early age. In fact, the college she attended was a Bible school. Both her and dad raised us in church, and she lived her life as an example of what it means to be a faithful believer. In addition to taking me to all my little league practices and games as well as all the other things active kids and teenagers do, mom always made sure to take us to the church activities, such as youth groups and camps.

As she aged and getting around became more difficult, they could not attend church like we used to. But even now, when I walk through the house and see the chair where she would conduct her daily devotions and read her Bible, I see the books she was reading and find her Bible (more than one) filled with highlighted passages and notes.

The last time I spoke with mom, the day before her anniversary and only a few days before she died, she remained true to her essence of family and faith. She expressed her concern that she was increasingly worried that she would pass before dad and wondered how that would affect him and who would care for him after she was gone. I tried to comfort her and assured her that we, her children that she raised and taught, would be there and would step up. I promised to see her soon, as I was planning to visit within the a few weeks.

Well, now, my next visit with her has been postponed. While, she is no longer physically with us, she will always remain in our hearts and be as close to us as thoughts and memories of her.

But, as Christians and believers “we do not grieve as others do who have no hope.” (1Thes 4.13)

When I heard that mom had passed, of course, I was sad. But I also remembered what Jesus said to Martha after Lazarus died. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (Jo 11.25). So, to be completely honest I was also a little envious and happy for her. No longer is she in pain or needs a cane to walk.

It is true, “the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Cor 15.26). On this side of heaven everyone faces the inevitability that we will die. But as Christians we should not fear death because we have the hope of the resurrection,

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable,

and mortal puts on immortality, then shall come

to pass the saying that is written,

‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’

‘O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?’” (1 Cor 15.54)

The fullness of our hope as Christians is not only in the future resurrection, but also in the promise Jesus gave us when he said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (Jo 14.2). Additionally, the apostle Paul assures that while we are here “…in the body we are away from the Lord,” but that when we are “…away from the body …[we are] at home with the Lord.” (2 Cor 5.6,8)

As we prepare to lay mom’s body to rest until the resurrection, let’s remember that she is not her body. Mom is already, even now, at home with the Lord. And if I know mom, she is helping Jesus prepare our rooms in the Father’s house since she has gone before us.

So, while we grieve the loss of mom, Marilyn Hunter, let’s also know that we will see her again, if we too have placed our faith in Jesus Christ and look forward to our heavenly home.

I would like to add the lyrics to two songs to my reflections of mom. One that was special and meaningful to her, I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me, and another that I think is fitting, What Do I Know by Sara Groves.

I Can Only Imagine, Mercy Me

I can only imagine

What it will be like

When I walk by Your side

I can only imagine

What my eyes would see

When Your face is before me

I can only imagine

Yeah

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You Jesus

Or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence

Or to my knees, will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

When that comes

And I find myself

Standing in the Son

I can only imagine

When all I will do

Is forever, forever worship You

I can only imagine, yeah

I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus

Or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees, will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine, yeah

I can only imagine

I can only imagine, yeah-yeah

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

When all I do

Is forever, forever worship You

I can only imagine

What Do I Know, Sara Groves

I have a friend who just turned eighty-eight

and she just shared with me that she’s afraid of dying.

I sit here years from her experience

and try to bring her comfort.

I try to bring her comfort

But what do I know? What do I know?

She grew up singing about the glory land,

and she would testify how Jesus changed her life.

It was easy to have faith when she was thirty-four,

but now her friends are dying, and death is at her door.

And what do I know? What do I know?

Well, I don’t know that there are harps in heaven,

Or the process for earning your wings.

I don’t know of bright lights at the ends of tunnels,

Or any of those things.

She lost her husband after sixty years,

and as he slipped away she still had thing to say.

Death can be so inconvenient.

You try to live and love. It comes and interrupts.

And what do I know? What do I know?

Well, I don’t know that are harps in heaven,

Or the process for earning your wings.

And, I don’t know of bright lights at the end of tunnels,

Or any of those things, Oh …

Oh, what do I know? Really, what do I know?

Well, I don’t know that there are harps in heaven,

Or the process for earning your wings.

And, I don’t know of bright lights at the end of tunnels,

Or any of those things.

But I know to be absent from this body is to be present

with the Lord,

and from what I know of him, that must be pretty good.

Oh, I know to be absent from this body is to be present

with the Lord,

and from what I know of him, that must be very good.