Bonita Gail Hunt's Obituary
Gail Perkins Hunt, age 64, passed from this life on November 12, 2022 after gracefully battling liver cancer for over three and a half years.
Services to honor Gail’s memory will be held at Cooper Baptist Church of Leesville with Reverend Alan Stroud officiating. Burial will follow at Stephens Cemetery, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 9 PM at the church and then 12 to 2 PM until the funeral service time Thursday at 2 PM.
At the time of Gail’s transition to Paradise, she was surrounded by the pure love of family and close friends at her home in Anacoco, Louisiana. She was born in Leesville on September 23, 1958 and was the youngest child of Irby and Erma Rae Perkins. Gail grew up in a very close-knit family – the baby sister to Irby Jr., Mike & Wink.
Gail attended elementary through high school at Pickering where she was very active in choir and clubs. Her senior year, she was voted Miss Pickering High School by her classmates. She then graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secretarial Administration from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches where she met and eventually married Jeff Gurtner. They raised two beautiful daughters together, Chantille and Alison. They made their home in South Louisiana on the Westbank of New Orleans. She was a faithful, loving and devoted wife to Jeff all of his days until Jeff’s passing in 2007.
Professionally, Gail was known for her work ethic and loyalty. She worked for LEDCO, Powell Insurance, and then Entergy where she would work until retirement. Gail developed close relationships with her co-workers. In many cases, work friends became like family.
Unexpectedly, Gail would find love again. This time the lucky fellow would be Robbyn Hunt – coincidentally enough, an OLD high school sweetheart. He will proudly tell you about the tree in Kisatchie National Forest where in the 1970’s, he carved their name which still stands today. The two would eventually marry in 2009. Together Robbyn and Gail built a beautiful home in Anacoco, the same home from which God would call Gail to her eternal home. They were blessed to be given a second chance and lived a fairy-tale love story. Gail was very active in Alazan Congregational Methodist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas where Robbyn serves as pastor. Gail taught children’s bible classes and dearly loved her church family. Robbyn and Gail enjoyed 14 years together.
Besides the Lord, Gail loved nothing more than spending time with her family. No one gave Gail greater joy than her own children, Alison and Chantille, and her grandchildren, Taylor, Brooke, Chloe, Colton and Callie Gail.
Left to mourn Gail’s passing are her husband, Robbyn Keith Hunt of Anacoco; daughter, Alison Gail Gurtner Phillips & husband Shawn of Leesville; daughter, Chantille Renee Gurtner of Pearl River; mother-in-law, Glo Lester of DeRidder; brother, Mike Perkins & wife Sherri of Leesville; Wendell “Wink” Perkins & wife Teresa of DeRidder; sister-in-law, Martha Perkins of Leesville; brother-in-law, Audie Hunt and wife Alice of Simpson; sister-in-law, Rhonda Jackson and husband Wayne of Coraopolis, PA; sister-in-law, Pam Hudgins and husband Mike of Candler, NC; brother-in-law, Danny Gurtner and wife Lynn of Marrero; sister-in-law, Lisa Hadley and husband Jay of Tickfaw; grandchildren, Taylor Soileau, Brooke Lang, Chloé Gurtner, Colton Phillips & Callie Gail Phillips; a host of nieces and nephews, numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and a large group of prayerful and supportive friends and church family.
Gail was preceded in death by her late husband, Norbert Jeffries “Jeff” Gurtner; parents, Irby Leon Perkins, Sr. and Erma Rae “Pat” Smith Perkins; brother, Irby Leon Perkins, Jr.; half-brother, Buddy Perkins; and half-sister, Merlin Perkins Wallace.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Chip Perkins, Russ Perkins, Hayden Tassin, Justin Perkins, Justin Landrum & Kevin Blanton. Honorary pallbearers are Colton Phillips, Anthony Tassin, Luke Perkins, Duke Perkins, and John Martin Perkins.
The family would like to offer our sincerest appreciation to the medical professionals and liver cancer specialists at M.D. Anderson, Byrd Regional Hospital, Bayne Jones Army Community Hospital, Tulane Medical Center, and Dr. Kimberly Landrum – dear neighbor and friend. Heart of Hospice, thank you for the kindness and compassion towards our family. Special thanks to Cooper Baptist Church, Labby Funeral Home & the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office. To our family and friends, your prayers and love will never be forgotten. To God be all the glory, from whom all blessings flow – thank You for Your promise that we will one day be reunited with all the faithful, including Gail, and enjoy a home in heaven together for all eternity.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the Hunt Family at www.labbymemorial.com
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