Guthrie "Bud" Murray Hunter

Guthrie “Bud” Murray Hunter, age 79, passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at FirstHealth Hospice House.  

Bud was born in Lee County on December 1, 1942, to the late Guthrie Murray Hunter and Zula Catherine McNeill Hunter.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Billy Ray Hunter, Thurman Hunter, Vivian Cameron and Edith “Dot” Morgan.  

Guthrie worked at GKN Automotive as a facilitator on the Management Team for over 25 years. Throughout his years he received many accolades for his leadership style and improvement of productivity and cost analysis. He retired not only once in 2005 but twice. The second time was to facilitate the closing of the Driveline plant in 2007.

Golf and dancing were two of his favorite activities. Golf combined his love of the outdoors and walking. Saturday mornings were almost always devoted to meeting a few friends for a round or sometimes two. There were not many courses in the NC or SC that he hadn't played. Over the years he organized many outings for GKN employees as well as interactive matches between the various plants and divisions. For well over 20 years, he was an active participant in the annual Lee County Senior Games winning many gold medals for his skill. He was also a member of the Pinehurst Country Club.

He was a long-time shagger and enjoyed memberships in the Sanford (SASS) and Moore County Shag Societies (MASS). He held many offices in the early days of the SASS Club. Many lifetime friendships were formed. Competition didn't come until the late 90's. He was one of the Founding members of the SASS with Class dance team. He was part of the first line dance team competition held in Myrtle Beach, SC in 1997. The team competed for 4 years and won first place and their plaque and photo still hangs in the Fat Harold's Beach Club.  After the win in SC, the Brick City Dance Team was formed, and they competed in Atlanta at the Grand National Dance Championships where they placed third. Winning the Lee County Senior Games Silver Arts division entitled him to participate in the NC State Games winning a gold medal. Not too long after he and his partner, Nanci, began teaching the Shag Dance in Moore County, often reaching more than 90 students in a month. He loved to dance anywhere, and it didn't matter where he was, be it the Capitol Rotunda in Charleston WV, the Eiffel Tower in Paris or a street in Thailand, he loved to dance. Over the 15 plus years he introduced hundreds of adults and juniors to the dance he loved best..the Carolina Shag.

He is survived by sons, Rodney Hunter and wife, Anna Cabello-Hunter of Sanford and Brad Hunter and wife, Anna Heinzman-Hunter of Sanford; longtime partner Nanci L. Donald and her son David A. Rough of Pinehurst; sisters, Mary Sue Angel of Broadway, Betty Oldham of Sanford and Judy Rosser of Broadway; step-brother, Wendell "PeeWee" McNeill of Broadway  and  grandchildren, Alexis Tatiana Hunter, Andrew Murray Hunter, Nicholas Grubb, Jack Hunter and Scarlett Hunter.

A graveside service will be held on January 5, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Broadway Town Cemetery with Rodney Murray Hunter officiating.  

Friends are invited to come by Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home to sign the register book and honor Bud’s memory.

Please consider donations  to FirstHealth Hospice House, 251 Campground Road, West End, NC 27376.

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