John Embry Hunt, Jr.

John Embry Hunt Jr. was born at old Seton Hospital in Austin, Texas, on November 13, 1940 to Mabelle Cornelia Harn Hunt and John Embry Hunt. He died January 6, 2026 at age 85 in Chestertown, Maryland. He attended Mrs. Schofield’s Kindergarten, Robert E. Lee Elementary and University Junior High School. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High in 1958. John was a Troop 3 Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow and assistant scout master. He counselled at Camp Tom Wooten each summer and was a sea scout. John was a lifelong Longhorn-back to the knothole section’s 25 cent tickets days. Troop 3 scouts and their dads cleared vacant lots to park cars for games, attending games free as ushers. After high school, he joined the US Coast Guard and was stationed in Albany, Georgia and Miami, Florida. After his tour of duty he served as a civilian employee. He enjoyed crewing boat races to the Bahamas. At the University of Texas at Austin, John was active in Alpha Phi Omega, service fraternity. He earned a master’s degree with honors from the LBJ School of Public Affairs. He married Barbara Lee Gohn Shepherd in 1972. They moved to Arnold, Maryland. John worked in the Department of Human Services in the civil rights division, known for his excellent communication skills and his logistical expertise. He helped write the HIPPA rules. Barbara was a nurse and later writer for the US government. Both were involved in the Toastmasters Club. John led a speechcraft course on how to give a formal presentation, speak off the cuff, evaluate each other positively and run a meeting effectively. They shared a love of animals and had dogs and cats in their lives namely Andrew and Snowy, beautiful collies who led John and Barbara to the dog parks where they developed many friendships with other dog owners. They enjoyed long-distance bicycle traveling with 40-mile rides to Pennsylvania and Salisbury State University among other places. John and Barbara made regular trips to New Jersey to participate in the care of Barbara’s handicapped sister, Anita Gohn. John is survived by his wife, Barbara Lee Gohn Hunt; one sister, Glenda Hunt Black of Austin, Texas; sister-in law Vicky Klein of Mobile, Alabama; brother-in-law Joe Black of Austin; nephews Christopher Black of Austin; John Klein of Montgomery, Alabama; Fr. Dennis Klein, a Dominican friar stationed in Oakland, California; Allan Klein of Madison, Mississippi and wife Ashley, and nieces Rebecca Black of Austin and Sister Cindy Klein, a Missionary of Charity stationed in Tijuana, Mexico. Also, three great nephews Cutter, Cooper and Atticus Klein and two great nieces Sutton and Anya Klein. The family thanks all the staff at Heron Point of Chesterfield for their kind care of John and in particular, nurse Mindy Miller and social worker Carloyn Treptow. Burial of ashes will be at the Wall at Ft. Sam Houston Military Base in San Antonio, Texas.

John Embry Hunt, Jr.

November 13, 1940 - January 6, 2026