Janie Marie Hunt: May 8, 2016-July 4, 2025

For nine precious years, Janie Hunt lit up this world with her infectious smile, compassion, and love for everyone who was lucky enough to meet her, leaving a remarkable legacy that will never be forgotten.

Janie Marie Hunt passed away and into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior during the catastrophic flash flood that befell Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, in the early morning hours of July 4, 2025. Janie was nine years old. She was born on May 8, 2016, in Dallas, Texas, to Davin Patrick and Anne Lindsey Hunt. She leaves behind a brother, Henry Mills, 7, and a sister, Julia Catherine, 2.

Janie loved life and people. She loved school. She loved telling jokes. She loved church and learning about her Christian heritage and faith. She demonstrated a keen intellect and mastered many disciplines beyond her years. She was adventurous, kind, and charitable. She never wanted anyone to feel left out, and was always thinking of how to make people laugh. Perhaps most of all Janie will be remembered for her perpetual smile and the sheer joy she brought to everyone around her.

Janie attended Highland Park Presbyterian Day School and Hyer Elementary School in University Park, Texas. At the time of her passing she was preparing to enter third grade.

Janie was a beautiful, precocious and energetic child who packed many experiences and accomplishments into her nine short years. Her talents were many, from artistry and acting to athletics and mathematics. Her teachers called her a model student. Even as an eight-year-old, she was designated talented and gifted in mathematics and then in explorations, for her invention of a pinball game. She excelled on her basketball team with her steals and fast breaks. She told everyone who would listen that she was starting tennis tournament training in the fall, as well as volleyball with her friends. She loved her Girl Scout troop and was so excited to start selling cookies in third grade. She performed in ballet recitals and shined as Scuttle in a musical production of The Little Mermaid in 2024. She was always teaching her family new math tricks she had learned, and invented many new traditions for holidays, such as themed meals and scavenger hunts.

She aspired to be an artist when she grew up. One of her artistic creations was the only selection from her class in an exhibition at the Highland Park Independent School District 2025 Art Show at the Clements Center at Highland Park High School. Janie was honored as the First Golden Art Star in 2024 at Hyer Elementary and won the Gold Youth Design Award at the 2022 Dallas Garden Club Flower Show.

Janie was baptized at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, where she grew up attending Sunday School and singing in the children’s choir. She loved her GEMs bible study and her Wednesday morning bible study. She cherished her church experiences and practiced her faith in everything she did, always defending others who were being mistreated and providing sympathy to other children who needed encouragement. In her five days at Camp Mystic before the flood, she had already become known as the camper who consoled all the girls who were homesick. Last year she formed a fundraising group called The Baker Girls, cooking and selling baked goods to benefit her beloved Hyer school. At home, she was constantly going through her belongings such as clothes, books and stuffed animals, thinking of who less fortunate could use them more. She was named “Sweetest Camper” in her 2022 summer day camp.

Janie was the heartbeat of her family, always teaching how to live our lives in Christ. Her favorite bible verse was Luke 10:27, where Jesus summarizes the two greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Janie steadfastly followed these commandments and was a mentor and inspiration to everyone around her, both children and adults.

Janie is survived by her proud and devoted parents Davin and Anne Lindsey, brother Henry and sister Julia, adoring grandparents Janet and S. Michael McColloch of Dallas and Margaret and Douglas Hunt of Dallas, aunts and uncles Elizabeth and Taylor Hunt, and Morgan and Casey Hunt, Chelsea and Austin Hunt, Ally and S. Michael McColloch, Jr., all of Dallas, Megan Hunt Carter and Joel Carter of Charlottesville, VA, and Catherine McColloch Bennett and Josh Bennett of Bullard, TX, and seventeen cousins. She is preceded in death by her great grandparents Nancy and Herbert Hunt, Bebe and John Flynn, Marie and Dr. James Baldwin, and Jane and Murray McColloch.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection for Janie will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75205. A reception will be held at the church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Janie Hunt Foundation in care of The Day School at Highland Park Pres, for equal benefit of Hyer Elementary and The Day School, by mail at the street address above or online at https://www.thedayschool.org/give/bb-gift. Both schools were dear to Janie’s heart.