Stephanie "Omah" Gunter

Stephanie was born May 11, 1920 in Hartford, Connecticut. During the depression her family moved to a farm in Windsor Locks raising their own food and tobacco. While working in Hartford she met Cecil E. Gunter while he was stationed at Bradley Field. After the marriage, they first moved to Silsbee, Texas, settled in Port Arthur, Texas, and then Groves, Texas. Together they had four children.

When Cecil’s work took the family overseas to Holland and England she made the most of living in these different cultures, raising their children. She enjoyed traveling to other countries, collecting antiques, and taking classes in cooking and needlepoint. Stephanie’s passion in life was cooking and food. After returning to Texas, she shared her expertise of fine food by teaching cooking classes, even appearing on local television. She loved collecting recipes, but never followed a new recipe to the letter, knowing that a few minor changes might make it a little better.

After divorcing her husband of 40 years, Stephanie moved to Houston, making many new friends and living life to the fullest. She was pulled away from the life of the retired homemaker and bridge player to care for children in the Memorial area, offering their mothers lots of good advice. Omah always enjoyed visits to the Renaissance Festival, the Houston Livestock Show, other festivals, and the flea market where she could get a hot funnel cake for us all to share. Late in life she took dancing lessons, winning medals for her routines. "Dancing with the Stars" was her favorite television show. She drove until she was 90 and lived in her own home until she was 92 years old, a testament to her independence. Omah had a long and beautiful life that enriched the lives of many. She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

Stephanie was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Cecilia Gunter Brown and her son David Edward Gunter.

She is survived by son Stephen & his wife Jean Gunter of Houston, Texas, daughter Laura Lee Gunter Gardner of Houston, Texas, granddaughter Bobi Jones Crowl & her husband Ken Crowl of Katy Texas; grandson Donald Brown & his wife Sandy Brown of Round Rock, Texas; granddaughter Ashley J. Gunter, Houston, Texas; and four great grandchildren: Stephanie Haver, Patrick Gorman, Katie Gorman and Makenzie Brown.