Danny Huntsman Obituary

Lifelong Durango resident Danny Eugene Huntsman died from complications of cancer Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at his home. He was 67.

Mr. Huntsman was born to Elmer and Mary Huntsman on Sept. 16, 1946, in Durango. A third generation Durangoan, he grew up here and graduated from Durango High School in 1964.

On June 20, 1964, he married Georgia Lewis in Durango.

Mr. Huntsman was an entrepreneur who began his career running a machine shop working on brakes so they could be reinstalled on cars in a shop at the Andrews NAPA Store.

After going into partnership with Gene Wilson in 1968, he co-founded D & G Automotive, which continued machining brakes and began rebuilding engines. D & G was first on E. Sixth Street, now College Drive, until the partners purchased the building at 701 East Second Ave., in 1976, where Mutu's Italian Kitchen is now, and moved their business there.

The move put Mr. Huntsman's business in the middle of the automobile sector of Durango, near Morehart Chevrolet and the Hunter Brothers Ford dealership and across the street from Big A Auto Parts.

The same year of the business move to the 700 block of East Second Ave., Mr. Huntsman received his pilot's license.

Over the years, Mr. Huntsman founded or purchased several other businesses, including D & G Dyno-Tune, Animas Pawn, Big A Auto Parts and the Big A Machine Shop. He eventually also co-owned the building at 700 East Second Ave.

The Huntsmans' daughter, Amy Lynne, died when she was 7. Because the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 507 helped with the medical bills, Mr. Huntsman became an active member in the lodge, eventually becoming exalted ruler for seven years. He was also active in the Jaycees.

Mr. Huntsman also held elective office, serving on the Durango City Council in the late 1970s and on the Durango School District 9-R Board of Education for several terms since 1983.

In 1995, Mr. Huntsman won the grand prize pickup at the Ute Mountain Casino.

"He put himself in the position to hand me my diploma," his son, Danny Huntsman Jr., said.

Mr. Huntsman was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Georgia Huntsman, on Jan. 4, 2013; and daughter, Amy Lynne Huntsman.

He is survived by his son, Danny Joe Huntsman Jr. of Benton, Ark.; father, Elmer Huntsman of Aztec; sisters Vivian Neil of Ignacio and Verna Huntsman of Aztec; brother, Carol Don Huntsman of Aztec; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.