Daryl L. Hunter, 72, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026, at his home in Irwin, Idaho. He was born on January 11, 1954, to Eugene and Nora Hunter.

Daryl lived a life driven by curiosity, adventure, and a determination to make his own way. Photography began as a passion and became his life’s work, taking him throughout the Greater Yellowstone region and far beyond. Through his camera, Daryl had a gift for seeing beauty that others might pass by, whether it was wildlife in the Tetons and Yellowstone, a dramatic western landscape, or a quiet moment most people would never notice.

But photography was only part of who he was. Daryl was endlessly curious and seemed to know something about almost everything. To his family, he was their “walking encyclopedia,” the person who could tell you what happened on almost any date in history and who rarely encountered a subject that didn’t interest him. He was a photographer, guide, businessman, writer, storyteller, historian, and lifelong student of the world around him.

Above everything else, Daryl loved his family. They were always number one in his life, and he loved them fiercely. He also believed life was meant to include plenty of laughter. Daryl had a wonderfully mischievous sense of humor, a trait shared by the entire family, where practical jokes were not only accepted but expected.

Daryl lived on his own terms. His life took more than a few unexpected turns, but he approached it with resilience, curiosity, humor, and an appreciation for the remarkable ride it had been. In later years, he put many of those experiences into words, leaving behind his photographs and stories as a record of the places he saw, the things he learned, and the life he lived.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Hunter; his sons, Scott and Cody Hunter; his sister, Rhonda Hunter; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Daryl will be deeply missed by many, but the life he lived will endure through the stories he told, the photographs he created, and the laughter he shared with those who knew and loved him.

A service celebrating Daryl’s life will be held at 12:00 noon, August 22, 2026, at Chapel in the Valley, 3263 Swan Valley Highway, Swan Valley, Idaho, under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. 

To view the livestream, scroll down and click on the play button. The service starts around the 25:50 mark.