Obituary for Dareld Lee Hunsaker

Dareld Lee Hunsaker, 52, died of heart failure in his Tonto Basin home on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Dareld was born on Nov. 11, 1963 in Mesa, Ariz.
He lived in Camp Verde until 1970, when his family relocated to Pine, Ariz., where he lived out the rest of his childhood in the home built by his great-grandfather, Walter John Randall.
He attended Payson High School, where he participated in sports such as cross-country and wrestling. Dareld was known for both his physical strength and strength of his character. He has such a huge heart and possessed such a capacity to love unconditionally.
He was a hard-working man who loved his family. He was tender, kind, compassionate, loyal, dependable, peaceful and fair.
Dareld is survived by his parents, Walter Lee and Susan Hunsaker; his brothers and sisters, Lee Hunsaker (Kathy), Denny Hunsaker, Verna Mortemore (Doug), Lori Brown (Bill), Media Magill (Travis); his children, Dareld Lee (DJ) Hunsaker (Sadie), Stephanie Marie Merrill (Duane), Nathan Wade Hunsaker; grandchildren, Alex, Logan, Braedon, Aurynn, Desirae, Devin and Mason; and many nieces and nephews by whom he was very loved and respected.
Dareld cherished his extended family. His uncles, aunts and cousins played important roles in his life as he did in theirs. He will be truly missed.
An open viewing took place at the Messinger Funeral Home in Payson Saturday, Dec. 19. The viewing was followed by a graveside service at the Pine Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. for family and close friends only. At 1 p.m. a celebration of Dareld’s life took place at 53569 N. Hwy 188, three miles below Jake’s Corner at Brown Ranch, Tonto Basin to offer those in attendance a chance to share stories and memories of Dareld.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Tonto Basin Fire District, 1000 S. Main, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553 in honor of Dareld.