Theo R. Hunsaker, 75, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, surrounded by his loving family at his home in Vernon. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday Nov. 11, at the Show Low Downtown Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 300 N. 11th St. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Vernon Chapel of the LDS church, with additional viewing one hour prior to services. Interment will follow in the Vernon Cemetery.
Theo was born with a twin brother in Mesa on Nov. 15, 1935, to Leo and Emma Hunsaker. He spent his early years between Holbrook and Mesa after his father died when Theo was a year old.
He and his twin brother quit high school after their sophomore year to work full-time to help provide for their mother and siblings. They began at that young age to learn the construction trades and became licensed contractors at the age of 18 with their own business.
Theo married Analee Westover in July 1958 in the Mesa LDS Temple. In 1962, he and Analee and their toddler were called to serve a Building Construction Mission for the LDS church in South America, after which they returned to Joseph City, where Theo began an insurance agency for a change of pace. He continued to take on building contracts, and taught his sons and others how to finish concrete. They raised their family in Joseph City until he moved his insurance agency and children who remained at home in 1986 to Pinetop.
He was very talented and knowledgeable, always learning and amazingly well-read. He was always visualizing better ways to do certain tasks and developed two patents to improve certain construction techniques.
Theo centered his life and all enterprises around his family. He never met a stranger and was loved by all who knew him.
He and Analee had five children, Celeste Allen (Lewis), Miles, Kip (Alicia), Sean (Stefani) and Michelle Webb (Darrin). He is also survived by siblings, Don, Barbara and Elsie; 26 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by both parents; a sister, Donnalee; and twin brother, Leo.
Owens Livingston Mortuary of Holbrook was in charge of the arrangements.
