Fairy Ruth Hunter

Fairy Ruth Hunter was born in Selmer, Tennessee, on April 3, 1922, to Clyde and Ruby Perkins Robertson. Losing her daddy at age two and her mother at age eleven, Fairy was raised by her loving maternal grandparents, Otis and Lee Ann Perkins, along with her aunt, Maidell, and her two uncles, Ercell and Lionel Perkins. The Perkins family owned a dairy, so the Depression years were not quite as harsh for them as for many.

Fairy attended Selmer High School and West Tennessee Business College. Upon graduation from business school, she worked at Production Credit Association for several years. She married John Robert Hunter in December of 1949, and they had one daughter, Joy. Fairy was a stay-at-home mother until Joy was in junior high school. In 1965 Fairy returned to work as Clerk and Master of Chancery Court. She served McNairy County in this post until her retirement in 2006, at the age of 84. While at the courthouse, Fairy made an impression on and helped many people. Working with her lifelong best friend Dorthena Estes and later with her favorite Kim Fisher Boals, who became like a daughter to her, she was unofficially known as the “president” of the McNairy County Courthouse. In addition to collecting taxes, filing lawsuits, and going after child supporters who would not pay, she organized all social activities at the courthouse for many years. She was active in professional associations like the West Tennessee Clerks’ Association, the County Officials’ Association of Tennessee, and fun groups like the Red Hat Society and Selmer Golf and Country Club Women’s Association.

A resident of Selmer all her life and a very active member of First United Methodist Church, Fairy leaves a rich legacy of love, kindness, and selflessness. Her words of wisdom were always paired with wise and kind actions. Loved by all who knew her, Fairy leaves one daughter, Joy Hunter Austin, and beloved son-in-law Dennis of Jackson; much loved granddaughters Emily Paige Austin Thompson (Andrew) of Springdale, Arkansas, and Anna Elizabeth Austin Stokes (Austin) of Jackson; four great-grandchildren Alice Elizabeth Thompson, Anna Charlotte Thompson, and Andrew Stuart Thompson of Springdale; and William Austin Stokes of Jackson. She leaves a sister-in-law, Flakie Hunter of Selmer, and also the one who called her “Mother Fairy” throughout most of his childhood, Tommy Cox Estes of Nashville.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John Robert Hunter, who died in 1981, and her lifelong best friend, Dorthena Estes, who died in 2012. Fairy leaves behind friends of all ages.