Oretha T. Hunt entered time on July 17, 1933, the first of four children born to Morris and Sybil (Syas) Thomas in Creston, Louisiana, and departed to eternity peacefully in her home on September 20, 2023.  She is predeceased by her husband, Claude Cleo Hunt; her son, Maurice Anthony Valentine; her parents; two sisters, Janie Mae Brown and Overa Raglon; and her niece, Bernadine Waters; her nephew, Alex Thomas II; and other family members.

Oretha was brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at St. Matthew Baptist Church in Creston, Louisiana. In her teen years her family relocated to Kansas City, MO in 1949 on the first Sunday in September.  The family established a home on 24th and Paseo and began the journey of building a life and legacy.  Oretha attended and graduated from Lincoln High School in the Class of 1952.  After high school she began to explore vocational interests and decided upon nursing as a career path.  Though fascinated by the opportunities presented in this discipline, she soon realized it was not quite "her calling".  She then began working alongside her Mother providing personalized care to families and their children in their respective homes and eventually forged a career as an entrepreneur in the care giving field.

Oretha met and united in marriage to Isaih Valentine, a young man who had relocated to Kansas City from the State of Arkansas, in 1953.  To this union two children were born:  son, Maurice Anthony and daughter, Laurice Annette.  Their marriage was later dissolved.  While working at the Kansas City Municipal Stadium on 22nd and Brooklyn, Oretha met and began dating Claude Cleo Hunt, who also worked at the stadium.  Oretha and Claude were united in marriage on November 29, 1958, and a few years after marriage became parents to two daughters born to this union:  Cecelia Arlene and Sybil Lynn. Shortly after their marriage, Oretha and Claude united with Bethany Baptist Church where Claude served as an usher and Oretha served in the Sunday School Department and Junior Matrons Ministry.  In 1959, the family moved to 36th and Montgall where they purchased a home and established roots in the Oak Park/East Area Neighborhood. Desiring to unite with a church closer to their new home, Oretha and Claude began attending worship within walking distance of the home at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church at 3745 Chestnut Avenue.  They became members of Canaan under the leadership of the Late Reverend Robert B. "R.B." Poe.  Oretha became active in the Junior Matrons, Women's Sunday School Class and other fellowship activities, Claude served on the Usher Board and Layman's Ministry, and Maurice and Laurice were active in the Children's Sunday School Class, Vacation Bible School and other ministries.  After the births of Cecelia and Sybil, they too became involved in the Children's Sunday School and other activities. The family later affiliated with Community Mission Baptist Church (Community Praise Worship and World Outreach Center) under the pastorate of the Late Reverend Charles Bell, Sr.  In the early 1980s, Oretha united with the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of The Late Reverend Emanuel Johnson.  She served in the Women's Ministry, as a Sunday School Teacher for teen boys, and other fellowships and ministries of the church until she began to experience health challenges.  Even when she became unable to be present in the sanctuary for Sunday worship and Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study she would tune in virtually.

Oretha was a compassionate and loving person who had a heart for people.  This led her to enroll at UMKC and fulfill her desire to study sociology and psychology.  She attended UMKC for two years working toward a degree in Sociology.  Not only did Oretha have a desire to become knowledgeable of the theories of sociology, but she also went about putting them into practice.  In prior years when her children were in elementary and secondary school, she was actively involved in the PTA, served as a Classroom Mother, and Girl Scout and Boy Scout Den Mother.  In the community she was active in the Oak Park and the East Area Coalition Neighborhood Associations and served in various positions on their boards and served as President of the 37th & 38th and Montgall Block Association for many years. Beyond the neighborhood, Oretha had a passion for people with special needs and adopted the clients and staff of the Sheltered Workshop on 12th and Troost.  For many, many years, Oretha and family and friends would purchase and wrap gifts for each person and prepare and serve a meal during the Christmas Season which included visits by Santa and other celebrities in the community.  This brought joy to the lives of many who otherwise would not have received gifts at Christmas and experienced a time of celebration and fellowship.  Oretha's community involvement and philanthropy was recognized and honored by several organizations in the Greater Kansas City Area. In 1999 she was honored in The Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City's "A Celebration of Women'" event for her civic and philanthropic activities, by COMBAT (Community Backed Antidrug Tax) with the Community Mother Award in 2000 for outstanding community service, by Former Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Kay Barnes with a resolution in 2001 for her civic involvement, and in 2006 Oretha was the recipient of the "Time Well Spent" award by the United Minority Media Association.

Oretha enjoyed baking which she said was her therapy and was known for her Christmas Cookies, Tea Cakes, and Buttermilk Pies which she gave as gifts to family and friends especially during the Christmas Season.  She also liked to crochet and knit and learned how to make quilts from her Mother.  Traveling with family and friends was also a favorite pastime.  She and her children enjoyed cruising to places such as Alaska, Hawaii, and multiple Mexican and Caribbean locations. Travel also included many of the United States.  She developed a green thumb and enjoyed planting and working in her home vegetable garden and growing house plants and flowers.

Oretha is survived by her daughters, Laurice Annette Valentine, Cecelia Arlene Hunt, and Sybil Lynn Hunt of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter, Kyra Alexandria Valentine of Buena Park, CA; and her mother, Kathy Carmichael Valentine; brother, Alex Thomas of Overland Park, KS; uncle: JL (Essie) Thomas of Kansas City, MO; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, bonus sons and daughters, other relatives and many, many friends.

In lieu of flowers a memorial donation in Oretha's memory may be given to The International Myeloma Foundation at https://fundraise.myeloma.org/orethahunt .

Livestreaming can be viewed through the St. James United Methodist Church website at https://sjumckc.org/worship-online/

Thoughtful care and services provided by E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc .