John Ray Hunter

John Ray “J.R.” Hunter, Santa Ana, California resident, passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at the age of 42. J.R. was born on May 4, 1980 in Lawrence, Kansas to Gary Edwin Hunter and Janell Raylene Ponkilla.

J.R. loved music, riding his debo bike and reading his Bible. He also loved playing video games with his nephews and nieces. He liked to cook and said he was thankful his mother taught him how to make a meal with very little. J.R. served in the United States Navy on the battleship USS Abraham Lincoln and was awarded the following: Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

J.R. is survived by his mother, Janell Raylene Ponkilla of Seminole, OK; three sisters, Randi Ponkilla, Corina Billie and Alexis Moreno and many other family and friends.

J.R. was preceded in death by his father, Gary Hunter; maternal grandparents, Ray and Marie Ponkilla and two uncles, Clifford Ponkilla and Stewart Ponkilla.

Those serving as casket bearers will be Tim McKane, Justin Boone, Jared Williams, Nathan Nauni, Chad Ledbetter and Ky Pebworth.

Honorary casket bearers will be Robert Ponkilla, Stephen Ponkilla, Derek Ponkilla, Randolph Larney, Linn Doxtator, John Underwood, Jacob Underwood, Gerald Williams and Gary Dunson.

The family would like to express a special thank you to Comanche Nation Veterans and Snake Creek Baptist Church.

Wake services will be held at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2022.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, October 21, 2022 at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma with Bill Hobia Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Little Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.