Merlin Hunt

Merlin was born April 20, 1941, in Anoka to James and Dorothy Hunt. He graduated from Anoka High School in 1958, left the farm and enrolled at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1963 in Chemical Engineering, and continuing for a Master of Science from the University of Houston. Merlin and Ann Elizabeth (Betsy) Butler were married on September 3rd, 1966, in Oak Park, Illinois. Merlin worked for years with ARCO Chemical Company, including a role as Vice President of Sales at ARCO Technology, while living in Texas, Germany, Holland, Spain, and New Jersey. In 1981, Merlin completely retrained and began a second career as a Financial Advisor, and in 1982 moved his young family to Minnesota to be closer to the extended Hunt family and many Christian believers he grew up with. After the financial crisis in the late 1980s, Merlin made another major shift and went back to ARCO Chemical, first stationed in South Korea as a Project Commissioner for the startup of a major chemical complex for a year, then back to Houston, Texas to start up a second plant, remaining in Houston until he retired. Throughout this difficult time, Merlin put his family first, refusing to uproot them again, but instead, providing them stability and support while they stayed in Minnesota. Merlin finally retired in 1995, returning to Minnesota and his wife and family, and building a home on the meadows that his great uncles had mowed, just one mile away from his family farm where he grew up. After his beloved wife Betsy went home to be with her Lord in 2016, he continued actively serving his family and others until just days before he went to meet his Lord Jesus as well. His is a story of love, sacrifice, and the path to return home.

Merlin was preceded in death by his parents, James and Dorothy (Scheidecker) Hunt, his sister and her husband, Margaret and Harry Twiss, and his beloved wife of 50 years, Betsy Hunt. He is survived by two brothers and their spouses, James Wesley and Shirley Hunt, and Paul and Sharon Hunt, three sons and their spouses, Bryan and LaVonne Hunt, Steven Hunt, Derek and Gina Hunt, and eight grandchildren and their spouses, Raquel, Lucas, Anna Elise and Coletyn Barth, Brenna and Micah Coons, Corinne, Veronica, Orion, and Thessaly.

An evening visitation for Merlin will be held Wednesday, January 26, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Gearhart Funeral Home, 552 East RIver Rd, Anoka, MN. A funeral service will occur Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Trott Brook Gospel Hall, 17301 Nowthen Blvd NW, Ramsey, MN. A burial will occur Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 1:15 PM at Trott Rrook Cemetery, Ramsey, MN.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GearhartAnokaChapel.com for the Hunt family.