Melanie A. Hunter

Melanie Ann Hunter, age 52, of Marysville, Ohio died August 15, 2025 at the James Cancer Hospital in
Columbus, Ohio after a hard fought 2-year battle with metastatic breast cancer.

She was an avid horsewoman extraordinaire with a love of all creatures great and small (except spiders).
If there are horses in heaven, she is there directing, training, and competing in an upcoming weekend
show.

Melanie was born January 20, 1973 in Columbus, Ohio, the youngest daughter of Clarence Hunter and
Martha Clagett. Her devoted and cherished husband Keith Tarvainen survives her in addition to two
sisters, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, parents-in-law, niece and nephews, and great-nieces and great-
nephews.

She is also survived by her “horse community”, people too numerous to name, who were more like family
than friends, who supported her in so many amazing ways during her battle. Beloved horses, Norman,
Stormur, Moose and Finn; dogs Baxter, Zero, Poppy and Reykja; cat Storm Thorgerson; and pig Margaret
will also miss her greatly.

Her family wishes to acknowledge the outstanding caregivers at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive
Breast Center and the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital for their care to Melanie, especially Dr. Sagar
Sardesia and his staff. There are no finer caregivers nor facilities than these.

CANCER SUCKS. We -must- find a cure. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Melanie to
the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, https://give.osu.edu/spielmanfund -or- 1145
Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212.

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