Ernest “Ernie” McLean Hunt

AUGUSTA – Our dear brother, Ernest “Ernie” McLean Hunt, 79, passed away at Gray Birch Rehabilitation & Long-Term Care on Dec. 2, 2025. Family members were with him at the time. He was born in Augusta on Aug. 26, 1946, to his loving parents, the late George Hathaway Hunt and Angela Lou (McLean) Hunt.

Ernie lived in Central Maine for most of his life. As the first son in a family with three older sisters, he added a new dimension to family life, which expanded further with the birth of his younger brother, George Jr. As a young boy, he loved walking with his dad on the paths in Vaughan’s Woods, which was only a short distance from his home. Sometimes they were able to find mayflowers to take home to Mom.

With a loving home, friendly neighbors, and lots of neighborhood children, Ernie would always remember Hallowell as a pleasant place in which to grow up. He graduated from Hallowell-Farmingdale District High School in 1964. Following high school, he went on to attend Bridgton Academy, after which he pursued a bachelor’s degree in history at Franklin Pierce College, graduating in 1971.

Ernie spent his career working directly with people who needed help overcoming personal challenges. He helped those with mental problems at the Augusta Mental Health Institute, those with developmental issues at Pineland in New Gloucester, and those recovering from addiction at Catholic Charities in Lewiston. He was dedicated to his work and continued past retirement age until his health no longer permitted him to do so.

In April of 1978, Ernie would marry Juanita Gammon, a co-worker. The wedding was held at his parent’s home in Hallowell, and his father, a justice of the peace, performed the service. Many family members participated in the ceremony. Ernie and Juanita lived briefly in Freeport and then Augusta before settling in Minot, and enjoyed 16 years together before her death from pancreatic cancer in the Fall of 1994.

Family was very important to Ernie. He enjoyed get-togethers with them, and would always contribute to the proceedings. He seldom forgot a birthday, and gave very special presents. His favorite gift to give would be to take his nephews to Rummel’s (now Gifford’s) in Waterville for ice cream and then a round of mini-golf. He especially loved the lobster feeds that his late sister and brother-in-law, Faye and Courtney Prentiss, would hold in their cottage at Pott’s Point in South Harpswell. He attended family outings at Swan Island and Capitol Park, and enjoyed a good round of croquet or bocce. Ernie’s visits to his sister Joyce’s home were always very welcome, especially during holidays or when her grown sons and their wives and children were staying over. He loved the opportunity to catch up on what everyone was doing.

Like his father and mother, Ernie was very interested in politics. He liked to go over the situations of the day with those close to him. While he had strong convictions, he was always understanding and kind toward people who felt differently than he did.

In his free time, Ernie enjoyed attending athletic events, especially those that involved local teams. He would often go to basketball and football games at Colby College with his father, an alumnus. He was a great fan of New England’s four teams: the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Celtics, and the Bruins. He loved to watch the games on television, an interest which he shared with his sister, Marsha. They would often discuss and analyze games as they watched them together.

Ernie was very good at Cribbage and Scrabble, very rarely losing a game, and enjoyed Skip-Bo, Sorry!, and UNO. His brother, George and sister-in-law, Cynthia frequently visited him at Gray Birch and before that, at Oak Grove in Waterville to play these games with him. When asked what he would like to do on the afternoon of his last Thanksgiving, five days before he died, he said he wanted to play UNO with his siblings and nephew, and so he did.

Unfortunately, in the last 11 years of Ernie’s life, he suffered several health problems. This led to him requiring long-term care at Oak Grove in Waterville and then at Gray Birch in Augusta. One of his wishes was to express his appreciation for the members of the staff at both facilities who tended toward his needs.

Ernie is survived by his brother, George H. Hunt Jr. and George’s wife, Cynthia Hartofelis, his sisters Joyce Jose and Marsha Giglio; his niece, Suzy Prentiss and her sons Tyrell and Rydell in Florida; his niece, Cricket Prentiss in Tennessee; his nephew, Tom Jose and his wife Nilda in Florida, their son Charles and daughter Kristen Guglielmi and her husband Jeremie; his nephew, Bryan Jose and his wife Sara in Louisiana, their sons David, Alex, James, Jonathan, and Zachariah, and their daughters Eleanor and Angeline; his nephew, Stephen Jose and his wife Celina in South Carolina, and their son McLean in France; and his nephew, Michael, here in Augusta. He also has many cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Juanita; his brothers-in-law Harry Jose and Courtney Prentiss, and his sister, Faye Prentiss.

Ernie was a kind, caring, thoughtful person who was always there for his family. He has a place in their hearts that will never be filled by anyone else, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

“The LORD bless you and keep you.” -Numbers 6:24 (NKJV)

Per Ernie’s wishes, there will be a service of remembrance for members of the family and close personal friends to be held in the spring, with the time and place to be announced at a later date.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Care, One Church St., Augusta.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home website, http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Francis Recovery Center in Auburn, (be sure to designate the gift to the St. Francis Recovery Center):

Catholic Charities Development Office

Re: St. Francis Recovery Center

P.O. Box 10660

Portland, ME 04104-6060

207-781-8550

https://www.ccmaine.org/give

or to the

Greater Androscoggin Humane Society

55 Strawberry Ave.

Lewiston, ME 04240

207-783-2311

https://gahumane.org/give/general-donations/

Ernest “Ernie” McLean Hunt