She inspired many
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Inis Bernice Egan Hunter, widow of President Howard W. Hunter, was remembered Oct. 22 for her radiant happiness and enthusiasm and faithful, quiet Church service.
"I join with each of you in paying tribute to Sister Inis Egan Hunter," said President Gordon B. Hinckley, who presided over, conducted and spoke at her funeral. "Her passing has been sweet and peaceful. May her memory remain with us to comfort and sustain us."
Sister Hunter died Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, in Laguna Hills, Calif. She was 93.
Sister Hunter married President Hunter, then president of the Quorum of the Twelve, on April 12, 1990, in the Salt Lake Temple, with President Gordon B. Hinckley officiating. She had three children from a previous marriage. President Hunter's first wife, Clara Jeffs, died in 1983.
President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency; President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency; several members of the Quorum of the Twelve, and other General Authorities and general auxiliary leaders attended the funeral, held in the Salt Lake Ensign Stake Center. Members of the Tabernacle Choir, under the direction of Craig Jessop with Linda Margetts at the organ, provided music for the service.
During brief remarks, President Hinckley recalled the day when he learned of President Hunter's plans to marry again. "His announcement of his forthcoming marriage to Inis was most casual," said President Hinckley. "He simply said at one of our Thursday meetings, 'I thought I would just let you know that I am going to be married this afternoon."'
President Hinckley noted that President Hunter's first wife, Clara, lies beside him in the city cemetery. "And Inis will now be laid to rest on his other side."
Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve noted that on the day she married President Hunter, Sister Hunter's life "profoundly and eternally changed for good."
"That ordinance began a journey of eternal happiness, joy and accomplishment for Howard and Inis Hunter, who were and are very much in love," he said. "President Hunter's life was again filled with excitement and renewed purpose. They lifted, motivated and inspired many as they traveled widely together throughout the world. They shared five precious years together on earth."
Elder Scott said, "radiant Inis" became a great "source of sunshine and happiness" for President Hunter.
Indeed, Sister Hunter, described as an unusual and remarkable woman, entered President Hunter's life at a very important time for him and for the entire Church, said Elder Jon M. Huntsman Sr., an Area Seventy. "They had the unusual opportunity of circling the globe arm in arm and loving every moment of it. It mattered not whether it was here in Salt Lake City or various countries of Central and South America, or with the 600 new members in Kiev, Ukraine, the two of them were inseparable."
Sister Hunter always brought a twinkle to the eye of the president, said Elder Huntsman.
"She was thoughtful and considerate of the president's heavy responsibilities...," he said. "She knew she had married a man of great spiritual dimension, who was so very close to our Heavenly Father. Similarly, President Hunter knew, and often expressed, his feelings for marrying a woman who supported him with love, enthusiasm and a total sense of dedication....
"Sometimes in life people are raised up to perform quiet and unheralded service, in the building of the kingdom. Inis was most assuredly one of these individuals."
Sister Hunter's daughter, Elayne Allebest, lauded her mother's charity, creativity, resourcefulness and faith. "She made beauty everywhere she went," Sister Allebest said of her mother.
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