By: Hope Sickler

2-time NFR qualifier Nancy Hunter peacefully passed away at her home this morning after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Hunter's family were by her side as she took her last breath before she joined her best friend and NFR mount "Fuzz" at Heaven's Gate's.

Wife, mother and grandmother, Hunter left a grieving but incredibly proud family behind to carry on her legacy, and the strength that Hunter showed throughout her life prepared her family for this incredibly difficult time. Those who were lucky enough to know Hunter knew her as one of the toughest individuals they'd ever met; one who never backed down from a fight, no matter how difficult it looked to be. With a permanent smile on her face, whoever met Hunter, was intrigued by her positivity and optimism.

Hunter led a very warm and exciting life and although she loved her barrel racing and her career as a nurse, Hunter's true passion were her children and her grandchildren. Nothing was as sacred to her as watching her kids and grandchildren grow up and live a life she always dreamed of giving them.

It is a very devastating loss to the rodeo family and community to have lost such a talented, loving and humble woman with a true heart of gold. She will be greatly missed and always remembered as one of rodeos toughest competitors, inside and outside the arena.


Career Highlights

• ​2014 - Entered first Wrangler NFR ranked fourth in the world. Finished the year ranked ninth with $136,777. Placed in four out of 10 rounds and won $32,488; won the year-end title in the Wilderness Circuit and will compete at the Ram National Circuit Finals in 2015; won the Gooding (Idaho) Pro Rodeo, the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo, the Days of the Old West Rodeo (Delta, Utah), That Famous Preston (Idaho) Night Rodeo, the Days of '47 Rodeo (Salt Lake City, Utah) and RodeoHouston for second straight year and this year the money counted towards WPRA World Standings.
  
• 2013 -- Finished the year ranked 47th with $21,717; Won Golden Spike Rodeo (Tremonton, Utah), the Cache County Fair and Rodeo (Logan, Utah), the Famous Preston (Idaho) Night Rodeo, the Western Stampede (West Jordan, Utah) and RodeoHouston but money didn't count towards WPRA World Standings.
  
• 2012 -- Won the year-end title in the Wilderness Circuit and qualified for the RNCFR, the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo for the third straight year, the Days of the Old West Rodeo (Delta, Utah) and the World's Oldest Rodeo (Prescott, Ariz.). Finished the year ranked 30th in the world with $33,590.
  
• 2011 -- Finished the year ranked 54th with $20,561 in earnings. Won the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo.
  
• 2010 -- Finished the year ranked 31st in the world with $29,492; Won the year-end and average title at the Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo; won the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo (Albuquerque), Utah's Own Rodeo at the Utah State Fair (Salt Lake City), the Box Elder County Fair and Golden Spike Rodeo (Tremonton, Utah), the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo and the Oakley (Utah) Independence Day Rodeo
  
• 2009 - Finished the year ranked 20th with $43,358. Won the Magic Valley Stampede (Filer, Idaho) and the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo (Denver).
  
• 2008 -- Finished the year ranked 28th in the world with $30,576; won the Wilderness Circuit year-end title with $21,500 won at just 24 rodeos and won the Spanish Fork (Utah) Rodeo.
  
• 2007 -- Won the average title at the Dodge Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo.
  
• 2006 -- Was the Wilderness Circuit champion.
  

Information Courtesy of WPRA