DICK AND DEAN HUNTER

The following bio was taken from page 253 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Cemeteries of Texas

On a road out in Rusk County, a young man sat easily in the saddle, slowly driving a small herd of cattle to deliver for his father. As cows are wont to do, they suddenly wandered off the road and into a nearby yard. Where the yard has been neatly swept with several girls playing close by a few minutes before, now pandemonium reigned. Some of the girls ran off screaming, but two younger ones began chasing the cows out of the yard, fussing. The young man sat there, amused, and then slowly began to drive the herd on. He raised his hat and thanked the girls politely. One little girl, about fifteen, said indignantly, "Oh, Who is that? He is so rude and lazy. Did you see how he sat there and let them mess up Mama’s yard and flowers?"

The other little girl replied, "Oh, Dean, don’t say that. He’s one of my cousins. He’s not so bad. That’s Dick Hunter."

The younger girl was unable to contain her anger, but curiosity made her ask, "How old is he?"

Lorene Hudson replied, "Oh, much too old for you; he’s about twenty."

The above story is a much-loved one in the Hunter family because Dick and Dean have been married for almost sixty years.

Bernice Christopher Hunter and Berna Dean Long were married on January 19, 1922 in Texas City, Texas. Both had grown up and gone to school in Rusk County. Each had moved with his family to Texas City during World War I, looking for work in the wake of a depression which hit the northeastern part of the state. Berna Dean Long’s family had left after a devastating tornado which destroyed Long’s farm, crops, and stock, but miraculously left the family uninjured.

Bernice and Berna Dean, better known as "Dick an Dean" or "Uncle Dick and Aunt Dean," made their home in Texas City for fifty-seven years. During those years they raised a family of three girls and one boy of their own. Also they cared for and helped bring up many other children, hence the nicknames above. Some of these children lived with the Hunters for months at a time, some for years, and some until they married and had families of their own, thus providing the Hunters with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, whether kin by blood or by love alone. Also in later years, new nicknames were acquired, Nanny and Poppa.

The Hunter girls are: Dolrece Elizabeth, born June 29, 1924; Shirley Joyce, born May 8, 1926; and Reba Jeannie, born October 20, 1928. All were born in Texas City. Dick Keith, born in Galveston, Texas on January 8, 1931, was the long-awaited son of Dick and Dean. He and his dad were inseparable when he was small.

Mr. Hunter, and then later the two older girls, worked in the oil and chemical companies in Texas City. Jeannine became a phone operator. Dick was to become a fine physician.

Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have constant open house for children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and others who claim loving kinship with them. A weekend may see an easy two or five guests, or as many as sixty for each meal, but Nanny is "unflappable." She just calls for help. Poppa keeps a wonderful garden which supplies a bounteous table.

The Hunters live back in Rusk County very near the place where they grew up. They retired and moved back in 1973. Although they are enjoying their coming home to live, they still like visiting Texas City where they lived for so long.

Submitted by Mrs. B. C. Hunter