Hunter Wise

Hunter Ray Wise, 93, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle and friend, passed from this life on April 27, 2023.

He was born the oldest of two sons to Hunter and Julia Wise on December 4, 1929, in Olney, Texas. His younger years were spent in Wortham, with summers at the family home in Butler.

He graduated from North Dallas High School in 1948. After a brief stint at Texas Tech University, he served two years in the U.S. Army, from 1952-1954. After returning home from Korea, he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1957 from The University of Texas at El Paso, then known as Texas Western College. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

He married Betty Sanders on May 11, 1963, in Paris, Texas, and legally adopted her daughter Karen Elizabeth, born in April 1959. Daughter Michele Lea was born in May 1964, and daughter Kimberly Ann in October 1966.

He spent much of his career in the wholesale meat industry, starting in sales and working up to management. He managed the Dallas branch of Country Pride Foods from 1973 until his retirement in 1989.

To prepare for retirement, they relocated from Carrollton to Cedar Creek Lake in 1987, a move that brought him much joy. He joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 5-14, where he loved patrolling the waters and keeping boaters safe.

After retiring from work and the Flotilla, he volunteered for 15 years at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, where he entertained audiences as a featured scuba diver.

He was a lover of nature, wildlife and boating. He loved the peaceful serenity of lake living and all the comforts of being surrounded by trees, water and birds.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Betty, daughter Michele, brother Julian Wise, mother Julia Wise, and father Hunter Wise.

He is survived by his daughter Karen of Carrollton, daughter Kim and husband Roger of Dallas, sister-in-law Nancy Wise of Palestine, brother-in-law Mike Sanders and wife Elaine of Dallas, along with cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family, and loving friends.

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 2, at 2:00 pm at Huckabee-Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points. Rev. Eston Williams officiating. Interment following at Mankin Cemetery in Trinidad. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 5-14 at Cedar Creek Lake, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, or Texas Parks & Wildlife