Valadia “Dea” Marie Hunt died on July 1, 2017 at her home in Hermiston at the age of 53.
She was born on Sept. 8, 1963 in Denver, Colo. to Dawn and Clay Price.
As a young girl, she was adopted by Mary and Casey Denny and lived in Pilot Rock throughout her childhood, where she graduated high school. She lived in Pendleton before moving to Hermiston, where she resided her remaining 25 years.
She gave birth to, and loved dearly, three children: Valeen, Trenton and Alen. She married Greg Hunt on Oct. 13, 2002. They lived as husband and wife and best friends until her passing. Everyone knew her heart beat for her grandchildren: Nolan, Sophia, Gracy, Justice, Ember, Emma, Lucas and Emmett.
Dea loved to create. She often expressed herself through glass etching, jewelry making, penmanship and woodworking. She and Greg thrived in the outdoors together, often packing up at a moment’s notice and heading for an unknown destination to spend time together with nature under the stars. She had a whimsical spirit and loved anything black. She found comfort in things considered “weird” and was as serious about Halloween as most are Christmas and LOVED scaring people. She saw every horror movie produced and watched so much true crime, she had the mastermind to pull off anything. She adored all things miniature, missed the 70s, loved rock and roll, and couldn’t wait for the remake of Steven King’s It. She cherished all critters and was as gentle with a spider as most are with babies.
She had tenderness like no other. This was said for any person or thing that needed it, but especially true for those misunderstood, unappreciated, sad or lonely. Her heart was always wide open for anyone who wanted in, and she felt everything as deeply as the cumulative depth of the souls she touched. She measured her life by the people she loved and loved her in return.
She is loved and survived by her husband, Greg; daughters, Valeen Madden and Becky Pettey; sons, Trenton and Alen Storm; sisters, Linda Surber and Melanie Kay Gregory; brother, Sean Price; and grandchildren: Nolan and Sophia Madden; Gracy, Justice and Ember Storm; Emma Naylor; and Lucas and Emmett Pettey.
A celebration of life will be held at Spillway Park, Chinook Shelter in Umatilla on Friday, July 28, 2017 at 1 p.m.
To leave a condolence for the family, go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
