Obituary: Hunter Moulton Mackey, 1977-2020 

click to enlarge

• Courtesy Photo
• Hunter Mackey and son

Hunter Moulton Mackey was born in Middlebury, Vt. on December 18, 1977, and raised in Bristol. As an adult, he ventured to the Northeast Kingdom, where he made Lowell his homestead and resided for 14 years.

Hunter's greatness is in what he gave. He gave everything to what he set out to do, and it was always his very best! He loved with every bit of his heart and hugged you with all his might all the time. He loved to laugh and boost the silliness of any moment. And when we think of him, that is what we hear: that boisterous, deep, adoration-filled voice wishing us big hellos; giving us big, teasing “ah-has”; always inquiring about our well-being and our loved ones (family and friends alike). He cared about everyone. Hunter was not only an awesome person to be around to have as a friend, cousin, partner, son, brother, nephew and uncle, but he was also an incredible father!

Hunter's passion for the outdoors — whether fishing, hunting, skiing, jack jumping or hiking — and his quest for adventure and fun were contagious. Hunter was a skilled self-employed carpenter and found joy and a devotion for farming. Being with nature and his family were two of his most precious and cherished times.

Hunter had a courageous battle with mantle cell lymphoma from winter 2014, with a stem cell transplant in spring of 2017. He no longer was burdened with cancer but, post-transplant, with a chronic graft versus host disease. He passed away with his family by his side on October 7, 2020. Hunter is survived by his fiancée, Samantha Etesse; 7-year-old son, Sol Etesse Mackey; mother, Carol Lylis; father, Eric Mackey; and siblings, JJ , Nico and Montana Mackey.

There will be a memorial summer solstice celebration for Hunter on June 19, 2021 at the same location in Vermont where he and his fiancée fell in love at first sight on the summer solstice of 2010.