Sam Hunter, 82, of South Pittsburg, died early Thursday morning in a Chattanooga health care facility after an extended illness.

The son of the late Lee and Sarah Parker Hunter, he was a descendent of Marion County pioneers in the Battle Creek/Sweedens Cove area. He was a graduate of South Pittsburg High School and McKinsey Business College, a member of Holly Avenue United Methodist Church, a founding member of South Pittsburg Jaycees, and a recipient of the Jaycee Young Man of the Year award, and holds a membership in the Mountain City Club. A Marine veteran of the Korean War, he fought in the battle of Chosin Reservoir. After returning from Korea, he was a founding partner in Hunter Ready Mix, the precursor to Sequatchie Concrete Company. He later left Hunter Ready-Mix and founded his own Hunter Trucking and Heavy Equipment Company which he operated until 2011 when his declining health forced his retirement.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Sanders Hunter of South Pittsburg, two sons, Robert (Alicia) Hunter of Sheffield, AL, David Lee (Angie) Hunter of Mt. Holly, North Carolina, two sisters, June (Jerry Don) Moss, of South Pittsburg, and Ann (Sam) Woodfin, of Kingston, TN, four grandchildren, Tommie, Lissie, Wesley and Michelle, and several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be conducted from Holly Avenue United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 13, at 2:00 PM CST with Rev. Michael Johnson, Lay Leader Linda Pell and Bob Thomas officiating. Interment will be in Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be Saturday, May 12th at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg, from 5-9pm.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holly Avenue United Methodist Church memorial fund, c/o Patsy Sherrill, 214 Magnolia Avenue, South Pittsburg, TN 37380.