Diane Jackson spent a lifetime exploring her family history and was passionate about the legacy each generation leaves for the next. Diane and her husband, Scott, studied family trees, collected old photos, and visited gravesites and towns of ancestors—they even hired a genealogist to piece it all together. The stories sparked Diane’s creative imagination and inspired her paintings and poems.
As a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Diane discovered one of her ancestors fell overboard on the Mayflower’s voyage across the Atlantic in 1620. Had the teenage boy not been rescued, Diane’s family would never have settled in the New World. The boy’s courage and determination to thrive shows how one person can change the course of thousands of lives for generations to come. [His dramatic account was even made into a children’s book, “The Boy Who Fell From the Mayflower (Or John Howland’s Good Fortune).”]
When Diane passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021, her daughter, Linda Hunter, ensured Diane’s life will also change the course of thousands of lives, like her forefathers. To cement Diane’s family legacy, Linda established the Diane Jackson Family Pancreatic Research Fund at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital to bring more hope to families facing the often deadly diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Inheriting a Mother’s Giving Spirit
Diane’s life journey began on a farm in Michigan where she savored the outdoors galloping across open fields and splashing in lakes. In quieter moments, she expressed herself in journals and on canvases.
After graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in social work, she dedicated her life to working with families in foster care and through volunteering. But her family was always the priority.
“My dad traveled a lot, so my sister and I relied on my mom,” Linda says. “She was very nurturing and hands-on.”
As Linda grew up in Indianapolis, she and Diane were close, and they even volunteered together at a children’s museum. Linda learned from her mother’s giving spirit and carried it with her as she moved from college to St. Louis after she married Jesse Hunter, a former executive at Centene Corporation.
With three children at home, Linda became a dedicated professional volunteer and currently serves on numerous local and national boards. As co-founder of the Hunter Family Foundation, she is deeply committed to philanthropy and supporting the St. Louis community and beyond.
“My mom always felt the need to give back,” Linda says. “I get the combination of volunteerism and philanthropic duty through her.”
Treasuring Time
Linda’s passion for helping others turned to family when her mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had metastasized to her liver—just six months after Linda’s father had passed away in May 2020.
“When she was diagnosed, my mom talked me off the ledge,” Linda says. “But I knew how serious it was.”
Compounding the devastating diagnosis was the fact that Diane lived 200 miles away in Indianapolis. She was severely jaundiced, she needed surgery as soon as possible, and it was during the pandemic.
While the family was making plans, Michael Neidorff, Jesse’s boss at Centene and longtime friend, recommended they consult with pancreatic cancer specialists at Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
That set the wheels in motion for the Hunters to move Diane to St. Louis so she could be near her family and receive care at Siteman. To reduce risks and restrictions due to COVID-19, Diane stayed in an area apartment with 24/7 nursing care. Linda learned how to remove a chemo port so she could care for her mom too.
Linda is grateful that Diane was treated by Kian-Huat Lim, MD, PhD, a Washington University oncologist and researcher at Siteman who focuses on pancreatic cancer.
“Dr. Lim and his team at Siteman were amazing,” Linda says. “I believe he extended my mom’s life and also added to the quality of her life.”
She continues: “We focused on having the best quality time and making her comfortable. My mom did well with chemo, and it was controlling the cancer. She was diagnosed in November 2020 and died the following September, so she lived longer than we expected. I’m grateful she saw another birthday, and we could celebrate another Mother’s Day and the kids’ birthdays. I was with her every day, and we had Sunday suppers together. My daughter Kate read to her. To have that quality time and the memory is priceless.”
Linda and Diane also spent weeks together poring over thousands of old family photos as Diane shared the names and stories behind each one. Linda treasures those moments that brought her even closer to her mom. “For that time together, I would do it all over again,” she says. 
A week after the mother and daughter tucked away the last photo, Diane passed away, mission complete.
“My mom was a remarkable woman who touched the lives of so many with her kindness, strength, and unwavering love,” Linda says. “Her journey with pancreatic cancer was a testament to her resilience and courage, but it was also a reminder of the devastating impact this disease can have on families.”
Igniting a Fire
Philanthropy has been a major part of Linda’s life, starting with her mother’s example and continuing into her adult life. “Through my husband’s work at Centene, we saw the world of philanthropy at its best,” Linda says “The Neidorffs were huge influences on us. We learned the importance of giving back in the community, and we feel like it’s our responsibility to help others.”
After Diane passed away, Linda felt compelled to help other families, especially as she became more aware of how pancreatic cancer was stealing parents from young families. A fire was ignited after she met Kira Andersen, who became a widow with three kids under 7 after her husband, Kyle, died of pancreatic cancer at age 48.
“I love and miss my mom all the time, but at least she had 75 years of life,” Linda says. “Kyle was young, and now Kira is raising three kids alone because of this terrible disease. It’s not fair.
As I learned more about Dr. Lim’s research, I decided I wanted to do something for him, who gave us the biggest gift of all with more time with my mom.”
Linda’s first step was to establish the Diane Jackson Family Pancreatic Research Fund at the Foundation to support Dr. Lim’s research. Then for her birthday, she asked friends to donate to the fund in lieu of gifts.
“My mom would have said don’t put her name on the fund because she helped so many people without looking for credit,” Linda says. “But this fund is about her and the good it can do. 
Going forward, this is a family commitment. If we can lead by example, then we’re happy to attach our name to it, especially if it inspires others to do what’s in their hearts and support things that are important to them.”
Linda’s drive to do more continued to grow as she learned of other friends and families touched by pancreatic cancer. A close friend passed away from the disease in 2023. Another friend, Kelly Richert, lost her husband, Adam, 56 days after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
It was too much. It was time to take action.
Rallying Friends and Families
Although still grieving the loss of their loved ones, Linda, Kelly, and Kira were determined to make a difference for others. So the trio of strong women came together to create a unique, heartfelt event billed as the Saturday Soiree to raise awareness about the disease and support for Dr. Lim’s lifesaving research. A generous crowd of 120 friends and family raised $250,000 in one festive evening in February 2024.
Friends from throughout the community donated delicious food, and other auction items, and Olive + Oak donated the space.
“Everyone’s generosity was shocking and inspiring,” Linda says “Good things kept happening, and all the worlds came together. The energy that night was amazing.”
Linda has plans for another fundraising event to support Dr. Lim’s research in November during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
She is excited about how philanthropy could change the course of pancreatic cancer.
“I’m pretty good at raising money, and Dr. Lim’s pretty good at fighting cancer, so I think the combination is pretty good,” Linda says. “Whether people give $5 or $500,000, it all makes a difference.”
Support the Diane Jackson Family Pancreatic Research Fund
Written by Joyce Romine
Photography by Virginia Harold