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Jackie Darryl Dodson Hunton, born September 7, 1950 in Sweetwater, TX, lost her battle with cancer in her northeast Albuquerque home in the early morning of May 30, 2006. Jackie is survived by her husband of 27 years, J. Alan Hunton; sons, Christopher Allen Fredrickson and Paul Michael Hunton of Albuquerque; mother, Mona Dodson of Hobbs, siblings; Jimmy Dodson and wife, Jacquee' of Hobbs, Leah Love and husband, Bob of Hobbs, Terry Dodson of Odessa, TX, and Treva Foster and husband, Robert of Albuquerque; best friend, Karla Schlie of Albuquerque. Her pets include cats: Rusty, Dusty, Baby, Scruffy, Tux, Mr. P, Easel, Momma Kitty, Sara, and Betsy; and dogs, Kelsey and Duchess. Below is an article written for the "Blue Ribbon", an Albuquerque Rose Society publication: I was given the honor to write about two important people in my life. They both are what I imagine my husband and I being at their age. Vibrant, energetic, steady, dependable, and absolutely irreplaceable. Of course, we all know them, Alan and Jackie Hunton. Alan and Jackie were married in Hobbs September 2, 1978. They raised two boys, Chris and Paul. They are both active in their church, Asbury United Methodist, where Jackie taught bible study for 3 and 4 year olds. They joined the rose society around 1988. Their first show was a State Fair show. Kreg Hill remembers them coming in with roses, not knowing what to do. The Troyers, Stones, Bill Christensen and Kreg Hill helped them enter their roses. They won best open hybrid tea with Peace, among other awards. A classic statement of theirs "We won't have anything blooming for the next show." Is legendary amongst us exhibitors. Of course, they usually then go on to win most of the awards. They have consistently helped newcomers enter their roses, and make us all chuckle with their gentle banter in the prep room. They have been steady helpers in setting up the shows and helping take down for years, as well as exhibiting in every show. Jackie and Alan were instrumental in getting the Albuquerque Rose Garden redesigned in 1995. "Those of us who go way back will never forget the tremendous contributions of Alan and Jackie to the realization of our beautiful new garden, the maintenance of the garden, and all the work of the society" added Leah Watterberg. "Jackie and Alan have worked extremely hard to make the garden what it is today," Karen Cordova commented. Alan was president of the society at that time. He wrote letters, made phone calls, and met with city officials to make his dream a reality. "Alan was the driving force for the garden to be redone" Jackie told me. They both organized the planting of the garden, and Pat Stone recalls that Saturday. "Each rose had to go to its designated spot. All went according to plan. Jackie was heard to say many times 'Isn't this fuunn, kids?' Yes, it was fun, and we do have an absolutely beautiful garden. Jackie and Alan led the way." Today, they talk of the roses in the garden as if they were children they have raised. Jackie and Alan have also been the garden committee chairpersons for the last several years. Both of them have organized the workers, and made sure the pruning demonstrations go off without problems. Claudia Bonnett remembered last year. "Last year at our pruning demonstration, we had some bad weather. On one of those ugly mornings as we hoped for the clouds to lift and the sun to peak through, I asked Jackie if she thought the sun would come out. She very positively replied that it would, because she and several of the other ladies in our group had worn their bright yellow underwear. She assured me that wearing bright yellow underwear would guarantee a sunny day. Sure enough before the day was over, the sun was shining brightly. I haven't forgotten that little tidbit and this year at the pruning, everyone should wear bright yellow underwear." They also keep care of the wild cats that have made the garden their home. "Once, Jackie went to feed the cats, she opened the shed for food, and a homeless man jumped out!" Ginny Troyer said. Jackie and Alan also organized the weekly deadheading "parties". Siri Amrit Kaur recalled her first time to a deadheading. "I somehow had it in my head that it would be full of high-society ladies with perfect manicures, holding parasols and sipping tea. When I expressed that to Jackie she just laughed her wonderful laugh and showed me her hands. She said the Albuquerque Rose Society was full of real gardeners who liked to get their hands in the dirt. She immediately put me at ease." Fundraising for the garden has also been a passion of Jackie's, supported wholeheartedly by Alan. She organized volunteers to help her with the sales table during pruning demonstrations. The best hangout is the table, to hear the stories and jokes that Jackie has in plenty. The Hunton home has been the home for the last several years of the society's rose sales. Jackie and Alan took orders, talked unsuspecting members into buying more than planned, submitted the orders, and then organized the roses once they came in. Jackie and her team would show members to their preordered box, and then tell you stories of roses, like Sweet Revenge, knowing you couldn't resist having one with such a fabulous colorful history. With a well placed, "Isn't she just lovely?" or "Isn't she just to die for?" Jackie met her goal "Order 2, leave with 4, order 6, leave with 12, etc." Alan was president during our hosting of the American Rose Society's National Convention in 1998. As a financial wizard, Alan was able to keep our society in the black, which is a huge undertaking. "Alan was indispensable when it came to Albuquerque hosting the ARS convention several years ago. He was president, IIRC, and his accounting skills made us one of the few local Rose Societies to stay in the black after hosting one of those huge conventions. And, with all that pressure, I never heard him utter a cross word." Siri Amrit Kaur Khalsa recalled. Jackie and Alan have been the unofficial greeters at Rose Society events as well. Each newcomer is met by one of them. Debbie Butcher said "For me, one of the most impressive things about Jackie is that she remembers people's names. She introduces newcomers as if they were old friends. She remembers things about each person to share, helping us to quickly get to know each other." "I went to that first meeting two and a half years ago, feeling like most newcomers, a little anxious and uncomfortable. Jackie came up to me and gave me a warm and friendly greeting and sort of gave me an idea of the evening's agenda. For this, I thank her." Sylvia Goff remembers. Two years ago, members of the society went on Jackie's trip "Tyler or Bust". We drove to Tyler, Texas on a Thursday. We all stayed in the same hotel, ate together, and of course, went rose shopping. We woke up bright and early to go to our rose emporium, Chamblee's. We were treated to a grand tour and showed many roses that were not available to the general public, but "something can be arranged" if we couldn't live without some. We also toured the Tyler Rose Garden, sniffed and enjoyed a hot muggy day. The next day, we headed off to Chamblee's again, in the rain, to purchase what our fellow members had purchased the day before. Jackie had looked many roses up in one of the several rose books we had, and said "I just have to get this one. Listen to this. Lady Hillingdon. She's no good in bed, but great against a wall." Then we found the David Austin Nursery. Jo VanBurgen, an Albuquerque native, manages the nursery, and let us loose in the test garden, as well as the greenhouse. We were able to examine new unnamed Austins. Jody Ifversen introduced everyone to Jude the Obscure, and Scepter d' Isle. So, off we went again to our steady friend, Chamblee's. Tim Moss and Jackie raced to the Jude the 'Not so' Obscure, as we like to call it now, to find the best one gallon plant. I think Jackie won that one, while her loving husband rolled with laughter. After sneaking in some antiquing, we dined in a fabulous restaurant, called the Potpouri House, where another native Albuquerquean treated us all to dessert. The next day we snuck in a trip to Shreveport, to the ARS home garden. The following morning, we all packed our cars with newspaper protected roses, and headed west for home. Jackie and Alan have made the society a wonderfully fun club to belong to. They have made their garden at home an inspiration to several members through the years. Pat Jeremia. "I have always admired her dedication, hard work and sheer zest for life and roses." "Jackie and Alan are precious friends. God doesn't send such people very often. It's a great pleasure to know them and love them." Said Carol Schroer. I consider myself much blessed to have the influence of these two wonderful people; Alan, with his quiet dignity and solid faith in hard work, and Jackie with her boundless optimism and joy for life. Thank you, Huntons. Jackie is predeceased by her father Dearl Dodson, grandparents Mancle and Lillian Pointer and Charles F. and Julia Dodson. Services will be held on Sunday, June 4, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 10000 Candelaria Road NE, with Rev. Roland McGregor officiating. Cremation handled by French's Mortuary. Jackie wished all financial contributions be sent to either Asbury Children's Ministry, 10000 Candelaria Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112 or ANEW (Animal Network Efforts by Women) P.O. Box 9244, Albuquerque, NM 87119. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400
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