Helen Nuckles Hunt

Helen Busybee Nuckles Hunt, faithful follower and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, left this world and temporary home to be with Christ eternally on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Helen was born February 29, 1924 in Reusens, VA. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, the Reverend Roger W. Hunt. Also preceding her were her parents Benjamin and Devilla Nuckles, brother Harvey Nuckles, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren who only opened their eyes to Jesus. Helen was a devoted wife and mother, setting an example of faithful Christian service to her children and laboring with and enabling her husband in ministry. Through her marriage, Helen demonstrated a selflessness and love that could have only come from Jesus, and that picture has influenced each of her descendants. When Helen died at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, she was 96 years old, having celebrated her 24th official birthday in February.

Surviving are her three children, 16 grandchildren, and 41 great grandchildren: David and Linda Hunt and their children and grandchildren: Amanda and Jordan Queenie (Kyson and Hunter), Derik and Ruth Hunt, Clarissa and Jason Newswanger (Harvey); Paul and Rebecca Hunt and their children and grandchildren: Andrea Hunt, Joseph and Tami Hunt (Kirstin, Ashlyn, Ryan, Nathan, Daniel, David, Emily), Joel and Candice Hunt (Greta, Lucy, Meredith, Katherine, Harvey and Atticus), Patrick and Jennifer Hunt (Josiah, Benjamin, Samuel and Ethan), Zachary and Sarah Hunt (Hannah, Rebekah, Katelyn, Lauren, Caleb, Joshua and James), Collyn and Ryan Brown (Esther, Prudence and Simeon), Elisa and Stephen Schuknecht (Brianna, Alison, Abigail, Julia and Travis), Carolyn and John Reynolds and Abraham and Angela Hunt; and Ruth and David Elder and their children and grandchildren: Lauren and Matthew Gary (Liam, Madalyn, Finley and OIiver), Virginia and Kevin Witten (Cora and Megan), Matthew and Brenna Elder, and Hannah Elder.

She lost her father as a child and moved frequently with her family, eventually settling in Hopewell, VA, her adopted hometown. Helen traced the beginning of her faith in Jesus Christ to revival services she attended at age 13, and she credited the ministry of her beloved West End Presbyterian Church with her formative growth in biblical faith and wisdom.

Helen met her future husband while attending Columbia Bible College. After her graduation in 1952, their courtship ensued (mostly by mail) while Helen took up her calling as an elementary school teacher. After a one-year teaching career, Helen was married to the love of her life on June 20, 1953, and Helen’s calling shifted from school teacher to faithful pastor’s wife. Helen came alongside her husband in ministry at churches in PA, MO, FL, and IN before the family returned to St. Louis permanently. She was active in women’s ministries and church life, and her love of praising God through music was evident in her gifts as both church organist and choir soprano. As a bookkeeper at Covenant Theological Seminary, her eager and outgoing nature and many interactions with pastors and missionaries across the global PCA family made her a walking “Wikapedia” for the denomination.

A lover of fun and light-hearted humor, she used her Depression Era ingenuity and extensive sewing skills to create countless costumes and clothing items for her family, and she was a natural at making neighborhood children feel welcome in her home. That spirit of warmth and adoration didn’t just extend to her children – Helen made each of her many grandchildren feel as if he or she was most important (regardless of how many times each appeared on the walls of her tv room/family portrait gallery). Her pride in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren was unmistakable, and she was always quick to attribute her accomplishments as a mother and grandmother to Christ alone.

Helen had different but complementing interests and skills to those of her husband. She was a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan and enjoyed many evenings of Boggle, Scrabble, or puzzles. Her explosive enthusiasm endeared her interests to her husband even when he had no care for them on his own. They collaborated in everything, but none seemed to outshine her hospitality. Helen expressed her southern hospitality roots at her table. Roger gardened, and Helen canned, cooked and served what he provided (a skill she joyfully passed on to her grandchildren). They regularly entertained dinner and overnight guests in their home, and there were seasons when guests lived with them for long periods of time.

Helen worshipped faithfully at Covenant Presbyterian Church until 2018, when declining health limited her ability to attend. Helen and Roger moved into Friendship Village Chesterfield in 2014. Till her dying breath, Helen was unimaginably proud of her “Yankee” husband, and though she grew to love St. Louis, she still thought of “God’s country”, her beloved Virginia, as home. Helen listed “Fairest Lord Jesus”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Rock of Ages”, “Unto the Hills” and “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah” among her favorite hymns. She also wrote, “I have found comfort and encouragement in the following Bible passages: Psalm 23, 37, 121; Proverbs 3:5, 6; Isaiah 40; Jeremiah 33:3; John 3:16 and the Epistles".

SERVICES: A Memorial Service will be held at 10am on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Covenant Presbyterian Church 2143 N. Ballas Rd., St. Louis, MO 63131.