Sunday's Obituary - Geneabloggers - Jimmy Ray Gunter

One of the Geneablogger daily blog themes for Sunday is Sunday’s Obituary, brought to us by Leslie Ann of Ancestors Live Here.

My daddy died in December. There was a disagreement between my family members and the funeral home and the funeral home did not post the obituary for my daddy in the local newspaper. So, for my first time participating in Sunday's Obituary, I will be creating one for my daddy.

My daddy and me on my wedding day, 1984. Jimmy Ray Gunter, age 42 years. Suzanne, age 19 years.

Jimmy Ray Gunter, born 3 December 1941 to Andrew James and Evelyn Floree Fowler Gunter, died 9 December 2012 at his home in Starr, Anderson County, South Carolina. He died of a heart attack. He was 71 years old.

A native of South Carolina, he worked for many years at Owens-Corning Fiberglas until he was disabled by arthritis. As a young man, he worked for Dr. Pepper Bottling Company as well as for McDonald's, and was also a long-haul trucker at times. One winter he was stranded for six weeks in Oklahoma due to a snow storm. Christmas was just not the same with daddy gone that year.

In addition to his wife of 48 years, Madeline Spence Gunter of the home, he is also survived by his sister Charlotte Gunter Smith of Anderson County, South Carolina. He is also survived by his daughters, Suzanne Gunter McClendon of Wharton, Texas and Carolee Gunter Strickland of the home, and his sons Howard Ray Gunter of Fort Belvoir, Virginia and James Robert Gunter of Columbia, South Carolina.

He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Whitney, David, and Maggie McClendon of Texas, and Jared (and his wife Addy) McClendon of Maine, Haley Gunter Smith of Anderson County, South Carolina, Brandon Strickland of the home, Jovanna and Amanda Born and two great-grandchildren, Madyson Smith and Tammy Vavrecka.

He was pre-deceased by his parents and his older brother, Bobby Joe Gunter, who died in Germany while serving in the US Army. He was also greeted into Heaven by a younger sibling and several grandchildren that went on to be with the Lord before they breathed their first breath on this earth.

Instead of a traditional burial, daddy chose to be cremated. His ashes were scattered on the graves of his mama, daddy, and brother at the New Silverbrook Cemetery in Anderson, Anderson County, South Carolina. 

Rest in peace, daddy. We love you.

Suzanne Gunter McClendon, 10 March 2013