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Osborne Hunt was born on October 9th, 1936 in Granite, Oklahoma to William Morris and Roxey Anna Hunt. Osborne passed away on February 10, 2025 in Weatherford, OK at the age of 88. He had two older sisters, Hazel Louise and Doris Maxine, and one younger sister, Anna Ruth. Osborne was raised in Granite where he attended school and graduated in 1955. At a very young age, he was hired on at the local grocery store when he showed up to get discarded lettuce leaves for his pet rabbits. One of the workers had not shown up, and J. B. Reser asked if he would like a job. Osborne went home, changed clothes, and came back to start a career at the Cothrum-Reser Grocery Store where he worked until 1968.
Osborne met the love of his life in 1962 when Shirley Jane Schmidt came to town as a new schoolteacher at Granite public schools where she taught music for grades 1st – 12th through May, 1964. Her fellow teachers made it a point to see that Osborne and Shirley ended up together by arranging meetings at the local laundromat. With her friends covert planning, Osborne just happened to show up at the same time Shirley was doing her laundry. Their visits continued and later blossomed into a 60-year marriage that began November 2nd, 1964.
They began their lives together living in Granite, and in March of 1968 they moved to Hinton, OK after purchasing Dr. A. F. Hobbs Store. Shirley initially worked at the Soil Conservation Office while Osborne ran the store, but that came to a screeching halt in 1971 when their first child, Braddock Osborne, was born 2 weeks early. From then on, they were an unstoppable team working together at the store. In 1974, their second son, John Michael, was born, which completed their family. The Hunts ran the store for 28 years where it became a staple of community, providing school supplies and textbooks, other dry goods, and lunch for high school students at noon.
Osborne was known far and wide for his launching of ham & cheese and Poor Boy sandwiches across the room to kids at their lunch tables…most of which hit their targets. Hobbs served as a hangout for coffee and soda pop drinkers of all ages and was always a friendly place to be. Their kindness to all who entered…along with the made to order drinks and shakes…kept everyone coming back again and again. In 1989 he and Shirley began taking custom picture frame orders upstairs at Hobbs. In 1996 they sold the store, closed in their carport at home to make a shop, and for another 28 years continued the picture framing business where it thrives to this day.
In the late 1990’s, Osborne became an active member of the Hinton First United Methodist church after his profession of faith in Jesus and his baptism performed by the late Rev. Mark Barnett.
Osborne was preceded in death by his mother, father and 3 sisters, Hazel Hawkins, Doris Kendrix, and Anna Ruth Baker.
He is survived by: his wife Shirley; son Brad and his wife Sherry of Edmond, OK, and their two daughters Jaley and Loran; son Michael and his wife, Deidre of Weatherford, OK, and their three children: Allison and her husband Josh Sinor, Dylan, and Riley.
Services will be at First United Methodist Church, Friday, 2:00 PM, February 14th, 2025 in Hinton, OK, with his former pastor Gary Haines and pastor Lance Ashmore officiating. Mr. Hunt will be laid to rest in the Hinton Cemetery, Hinton, OK.
Services have been entrusted to Turner Funeral Home, Hinton, OK.
