Former Yuman dies in hospital in Philippines

  Thomas Hunt, formerly of Yuma, died Sunday morning in a hospital in the Philippines.

  Hunt was 72 years old.

  Hunt, who moved to the city of Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines last
year, was suffering from brain tumor complications due to diabetes, his former stepson Ted Hammon of Phoenix previously told The Sun.

  Hunt moved from Yuma to Cagayan de Oro with the intention of retiring there with his wife Janelaze, but his wife never made the move.

  Janelaze Hunt told The Sun Tuesday from her home in Virginia that she plans to bury Hunt in the Philippines because she doesn't have enough money to bring him home. His body has been released from the hospital, but she is trying to gather money for a burial.

  Janelaze Hunt said Hunt wanted to be buried in the Philippines.

  Hammon said he never had the chance to talk with Hunt about his wishes, but that Hammon said he believes Hunt would have liked to have been buried in Phoenix, where both of his parents are.

  Hunt, a veteran, served with the United States Navy in the mid 1950s.

  Hammon said he will remember Hunt's "strong" involvement in church
the most. And he said Hunt was a "strong Christian man with strong Christian values."

  Janelaze Hunt said Hunt "was an extremely kind and caring man. "

  "He did so much for me that I will always cherish him. I will truly miss him for who he was."

  Hammon said the group of ex-pats wives that were caring for Hunt in the Philippines did a lot for a man they barely knew.

  "I think the ladies that were working and visiting him daily and the people who contributed to buying medicine for him in his last days should be highly commended," Hammon said.

--
Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.