Elzie Auldridge Hunter

Elzie Auldridge Hunter, son of James Auldridge Hunter and Ruth Raulerson was born 21 May 1888 Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 28 Nov 1963 Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 1910. Volusia CO, FL, Etta Eliza Stone, dau of William H. (Uncle Billy) Stone, Jr, and Lucy Ann Clifton, born 15 Jun 1887, Pierson, Volusia CO, FL, died 20 Apr 1973, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. They are both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

They are listed on page 54 of the 1910 census of St. Johns County with his occupation given as "Farmer," and as residing in Espanola. The family is listed on page 42 of the 1920 census of Flagler County, residing in Espanola with his occupation given as "Farmer - Truck Farm."

During the time the Railroads steam locomotives used fat lightwood as fuel, he delivered this wood to the stop at Tank Lake, he supplied the railroad hand-hewn cypress cross ties, was a cattleman and farmed.

During WW I he was a substitute mail carrier for Herschel Henderson. The route included the area that is now Palm Coast and delivery was made by horse and cart. He owned and operated the "Live and Let Live Campground" at Espanola.

He was a member of Bunnell Lodge #200 F & A M, served as a County Commissioner for District #5 for eight terms, except for a brief stay in South Florida as a boy he lived in the Espanola area and was buried about a fourth mile from where he was born. The family were members of the First Baptist Church of Bunnell and be served as a Deacon. They donated the land for the Community Building and Volunteer Fire Station in Espanola.

During WW II, they had four sons in the military service at one time, each serving approximately four years. They were the parents of six sons;

1. Elzie Earl Hunter, born 15 Oct 1911, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, died 18 Jan 1912, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

2. Kenneth Claude Hunter, born 12 Dec 1912, Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 20 Nov 1984, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 09 Sep 1953, Center Hill, Sumter CO, FL, Martel Kight, dau of Ohmer Kight and Mamie LNU, born about 1918, Center Hill, Sumter CO, FL (Div).

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Hunter served in US Armed Service during WW II.

3. Ray Chester Hunter, born 18 Jun 1915 Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 05 Feb 1942, Glendale Hospital, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 17 Feb 1932, St Augustine, St Johns CO, by County Judge Baker, Jewel Glynn Whitaker, dau of Henry Ross Whitaker and Bessie Hicks, born 20 Jul 1915, Gordon, Houston CO, AL, died 29 Aug 1987, Putnam Community Hospital, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL. Issue;

(1) Betty Jean Hunter, born 08 Oct 1933, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, died 19 Sep 1984, University of Alabama Hospital, Birmingham, Jefferson CO, AL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 18 Jun 1952, Folkston, Charlton CO, GA, Lawrence Waldo (Buddy) West, son of Waldo William West and Alma Agnes Raulerson, born 13 Jul 1930, died 18 Sep 1981, Polk CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

Buddy attended Lake Butler and Bunnell High Schools and in Apr 1952 he had recently returned from Germany where he had been stationed for 39 months with the US Army. He was a PFC. In Jan 1957, he was employed by Lehigh Portland Cement Company in Flagler CO, FL. He married 2nd, Eleanor Marie Moody.

Betty Jean Hunter married 2nd, Stanley Richard Deen, son of James Emmett Deen and Gladys Close (Div-18 Jul 1983). See sketch on James Emmett Deen for additional information on this family.

Betty Jean graduated from Bunnell High School and in Apr 1952 was a freshman at the University of Florida. She moved to DeLand in 1971 and was a bookkeeper at Deltona Junior High School. She was hospitalized in the Birmingham hospital after examination 04 Aug 1984 at West Volusia Memorial Hospital in DeLand showed myocarditis requiring surgical attachment of a pacemaker. When an accompanying kidney infection cleared, doctors were able to proceed with issuing a call for a donor heart.

Ethel Whidden, a friend and colleague of Betty Jean’s at Deltona Junior High, where the latter was a bookkeeper, said a donor heart had been found but couldn't be used for a transplant because the tissue match with Mrs. Deen wasn't close enough.

(2) Carol Jane Hunter, born 06 Jan 1941, Mary Lawson Sanatorium, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, died 31 Mar 1973, Volusia CO, FL, married 09 Apr 1967, San Mateo, Putnam CO, FL, Douglas McArthur Sutton

4. Otis Stone Hunter, born 21 Feb 1920 Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, died 19 Jan 1999, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 12 Oct 1941, Green Cove Springs, Clay CO, FL, Pauline DeAnn (Polly) Cantrell, dau of William Andrew Cantrell and Fannie Arlena Morris, born 18 Oct 1921, Pitts, Wilcox CO, GA, died 06 Jan 1973, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

Polly was a graduate of Bunnell High School and in Oct 1941 was employed as secretary for the Flagler CO Health Unit (Div).

Otis was retired as a forest ranger and resident manager for Container Corporation of America and later Owens Illinois Timber Divisions Forest in Flagler and Volusia counties. A sixth generation Floridian, he also served as City Commissioner of Bunnell and was a veteran County Commissioner from 1960 to 1980 (He was the third generation of his family to serve as a County Commissioner of Flagler County); he then retired from politics.

Otis helped to implement the County Building Department, zoning ordinances of residential, industrial and commercial zones to existing property in the county. Mr. Hunter also helped to develop the County Ambulance, County Landfill, and Flagler County Fairgrounds.

Otis was instrumental in the formation of Espanola Volunteer Fire Department on 28 Feb 1974 and he was a past member of the Board of Directors for Florida State Civil Defense Council for Flagler County. He was a charter member and past president of Flagler County Historical Society, charter members of VFW Post 5213, member of the First Baptist Church of Bunnell, and 40 year member of F&AM Masonic Lodge, Bunnell.

Otis was a member of Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Forestry Association, Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and Kentucky Colonel. Sgt. Hunter was a four-year veteran of World War II, participated in the D-Day invasion of Europe at Normandy, France.

Otis was listed in the 1980 “First Prominent People in Florida Government.”

Otis Stone Hunter married 2nd, 31 Dec 1954, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, Susan Ann Muzyka, dau of Charles Konstantine Muzyka and Jessie Viola Bray, born 25 Feb 1935, Flagler CO, FL, died 23 Oct 2020, Flagler CO, FL. Issue;

(1) Otis Stone (Rocky) Hunter Jr, born 09 Feb 1956, Ormond Hospital, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL, died in a motorcycle accident, 19 Oct 2008, Putnam CO, GA near Eatonton, married 07 Mar 1980 First Baptist Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Teri Michelle Trivett (Div-12 Sep 1996). Issue;

A. Allison Samantha Hunter married Jun 2007, Gator Bay, Andalusia, Flagler CO, FL, Luke Robbins

B. Jesse Auldridge Hunter

Otis Stone (Rocky) Hunter Jr, married 2nd, 31 Dec 1997, Flagler CO, FL, Anna Lee Frey, born 15 Dec 1955, Leesburg, Loudoun CO, VA, died in a motorcycle accident together with her husband, 19 Oct 2008, Putnam CO, GA.

As a child, Anna was schooled at the Beverly Hills Academy of Music and Dance, studying tap with Willie Covan, choreographer for MGM Studios, and ballet with Robert Rosselott.

She later moved to Florida with her family and graduated from Seabreeze High School in 1974, where she was crowned Miss Seabreeze and has frequently served as a judge for the contest.

This multi-talented and beautiful woman went on to share her immense talent in many musicals at the Daytona Playhouse including Sound of Music, 1776, Oklahoma!, Bells Are Ringing, Nunsense, Apple Tree, Sweet Charity, Paint Your Wagon, Annie, Most Happy Fella, Dames at Sea, and Anything Goes. Anna also sang professionally with the Anna Frey Quartet and later with Kevin (Redmond) & Anna, who traveled around Florida with their duo.

Anna was also the inaugural artist-in-residence for the Casements. She was a dance teacher and studio manager for Winchester's Dance School from 1971 until 2001. Anna spent several years working for Sun Stuff Ltd., Pacesetter and Parsons Marketing commencing in 1973, along with working for the Doliner's retail stores.

From 1985 to 1991, she worked for Woerner & Parsons, attorneys at law, and had been employed by the State Attorney's Office of Flagler CO since 1991

(2) Kevin Scott Hunter, born 04 Mar 1960, Flagler Clinic & Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 24 Jan 1981, Hunter Home, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, Sherry Lynn McQuire, dau of Lawrence McQuire. Issue;

A. Kevin Scott Hunter Jr, born 18 Mar 1981, Physicians Alternate Birthing Home, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL

Kevin Scott Hunter married 2nd, 25 Nov 1983, C J Muzyka Home, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Vickie Mae Myers. Issue

B. Amanda Marie Hunter

(3) Zena Marie (Muff) Hunter, born 18 Jul 1964, Bunnell Clinic & Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married Anthony Michael Rende (Div-19May2005). Issue;

A. Hunter Rende

B. Kimberly Rende

C. FNU (female) Rende

5. Howard Lewis Hunter, born 06 Jan 1924. Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 30 Apr 1949, Folkston, Charlton CO, GA, Barbara Jessie Edenfield, dau of Earl E. Edenfield Charlie Murray, born 05 Mar 1928, Waycross, Ware CO, FL, died 13 Jul 2004, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

AOM/3c Hunter served with the U.S. Navy during WW II overseas in the Pacific. Issue;

(1) Howard Lewis (Lew) Hunter II, born 11 Sep 1955

(2) Ron Hunter

6. Wilfred Hazel (Elzie) Hunter, born 20 Sep 1926, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, died 06 Sept 1988, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 18 Feb 1949, First Baptist Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Naomi June Hosford, dau of Gerald Jay Vaughn Hosford and Naomi Taylor Brice, born 24 Jul 1930, Clarendon CO, SC, near Manning, died 20 Mar 1971, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

He served in the U. S. Navy in WW II. In 1976, Wilfred was running for Bunnell City Commissioner and said that he had 21 years of law enforcement experience having been employed as deputy sheriff and Bunnell Chief of Police - he was residing on 5th Ave in Bunnell. Issue;

(1) April Lynn Hunter, born 12 Apr 1951, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, died 23 May 1951, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

Naomi June Hosford married 2nd , Curtis Hoover Rodgers

Wilfred Hazel (Elzie) Hunter married 2nd, 04 Oct 1952, Folkston, Charlton CO, GA, Ina Wannelle West dau of Waldo West and Agnes Raulerson. Issue;

(2) Ina Ruth Hunter, born 13 Jan 1954, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, died 18 Sep 2008, Florida Hospital, Flagler, Flagler CO, FL, married 29 Jul 1972, SC, Charles Edwin (Chuck) Damron, son of William Damron and Edithe Justice, born 06 Mar 1954, Huntington, Cabell CO, WV. Issue;

A. Crystal Dawn Damron, born 08 Aug 1974, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. Issue with Stacy Mullins;

a. Alexis Renee Mullins, born 27 Jan 1994, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL

Crystal Dawn Damron, married Jeffrey Alan Knueppel II. Issue;

b. Jeffrey Alan Knueppel III, born 26 Jun 2002, Ormond Memorial Hospital, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL

c. Kasey Blake Knueppel, born 16 May 2006, Ormond Memorial Hospital, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL

d. Kahne Knueppel, born 16 May 2006, Ormond Memorial Hospital, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL

B. Elisa Autumn (Lisa) Damron, 29 Aug 1978, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 20 May 2000, Flagler CO, FL, Thomas Phillip Hall, born 14 Jun 1965. Issue;

a. Victoria Lynn Hall, born 22 Jun 1999, Ormond Memorial Hospital, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL

b. Thomas Jeffery (Tommy) Hall, born 26 Nov 2000, Ormond Memorial Hospital, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL

c. Tyler Phillip Hall, born 27 Jul 2003, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL

d. Zachary Charles Hall, born 07 Jan 2009, Ormond Memorial Hospital, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL

C. Edythe Lynell (Edee) Damron, born 28 Aug 1980, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL

(3) Shelley Hunter, born 18 Jun 1968, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 04 Jul 1992, Pensacola, Escambia CO, FL, Edward Hunter Elebash, born 29 Dec 1959, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw CO, MI (Div-23Nov1999)

 

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Census and Published Articles.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1930 United States Federal Census, Center Hill, Sumter CO, FL; WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Record; Florida Marriage Collection, 1927-2001; Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998, Record; The Flagler Tribune, Bunnell, FL, 23 Oct 1941, 08 Jan 1942, 24 Jun 1943, 24 Feb 1949, 12 May 1949, 17 Sep 1953, 27 Jan 1955, 15 Sep 1955, 17 Apr 1958, 10 Mar 1960, 23 Jul 1964, 04 May 1967, 19 May 1969, 12 Feb 1981, 26 Mar 1981, 09 Apr 1981; The Palm Coast News-Tribune, Bunnell, FL, 17 Jul 2004; U.S. Public Records Index; Interviews with Shelley Hunter Elebash, Jan 2008 and Charles Edwin Damron family information provided by Crystal Dawn Damron Knueppel and Lisa Damron Hall via email (Jan 2009).

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com

UPDATED: 17 Jan 2009