Bette Jane Hunnicutt

Bette Jane Hunnicutt, 85, of La Junta passed away September 1, 2011 at the Arkansas Valley Regional Nursing Care Center. She was born April 27, 1926 in Fowler, Colorado to Harry and Irene (Porterfield) Rose. She married Sterling S. Hunnicutt in 1943 in Oakland, California; he preceded her in death on Aug. 16, 1990.

Bette, spent most of her youth in the Plum Canyon / Kim area. Growing up on her grandfather’s, Charlie Porterfield, homestead. She started school in Kim and eventually went to High School in Littleton, CA and Oakland, CA. During WWII, Bette worked in the U.S. Naval Shipyard at Alameda, CA as a tool room custodian.

She was well known in Amarillo, TX and in La Junta as a custom seamstress. She specialized in the custom fitting of various types of garments. Throughout her life, she was always busy with crafts of one kind or another; knitting, cloth art, crocheting, scrapbooking, and genealogy. For the final years of her life she was especially proud of her crocheting efforts in the Unus Project.

Bette was a member of the La Junta Methodist Church and was active in the Otero County Republicans Women’s Caucus. She will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her daughter, Shirley F. Hasty of Lamar and her son, Ed Hunnicutt of the family home; grandchildren, Jerry R. Hasty of Avondale, CO, Jessica L Hunnicutt-Warner of Winston-Salem, NC, Edward E. Hunnicutt, II of Martin’s Beach, CA and Jonathon S. Hunnicutt of Sunnyvale, CA; sister, Mary (Rich) Rose- Keller of Escondido, CA; great-grandchildren,  Branson and Kimberly Hasty. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sterling Hunnicutt; companion, Pete Schneider; brothers, Ellis Rose and Billy Rose; nephew David Rose and niece Kathy Rose.

Memorial services will be held at Peacock Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Gail Allen of the Cowboy Church officiating.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.


It is the family’s request, in lieu of flowers those wishing to make memorial contributions, please do so in Bette’s name to the Arkansas Valley Hospice Assoc., P.O. Box 408, La Junta, CO 81050. Without this group of Angels and the Angels of the AVRMC Nursing home, this would have been a tougher time for the family.