Steven Dale Gunter

He was born December 16, 1947, in Rowan County, and was the son of Virginia Doris Spear Gunter and the late Lindsay Raymond Gunter. He graduated from Courtney High School and studied English while serving in the U.S. Marine Corp. He was of the Baptist faith and owned and operated Gunter’s Country Store in Turkeyfoot for over 38 years. He loved and cherished his customers; they were like family to him. If anyone in the community needed food or just a little help to get by, he was always more than willing to help. Turkeyfoot will truly never be the same. From 1966 to 1972, he served in the U.S. Marines and participated in Operation Chinnook II, Big Horn, Shawnee, Prairie IV, Hickory, Cimareon, Buffalo, Hickory II, King Fisher, Liberty I, Liberty II, Lancaster, Kentucky, Kentucky V and Lancaster II. He was honored with many medals including the Defense Service, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign, Presidential Unit, Combat Action, Good Conduct and Rifle Marksmanship.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Alexis Blanton.

He is survived by his mother, Doris Spear Gunter of Mocksville; six children, Tina Cockerham (Jermiel) of Mocksville, Christy Blanton (Brian), Timothy “Chub” Gunter and Kimberly Gunter, all of Harmony, Lisa Sanders (Rick) of Florida, and Steven Gunter (Vickie) of Virginia; ten grandchildren, Krystal Gunter, Devon Parks, Austin Gunter, Jake Cloer, Kam Parks, Kourtney Blanton, B.J. Blanton, Serenadi Parks, Braylen Blanton, and Eric Sanders; five sisters, Linda Sidden, Shirley Shore (Lee) and Becky Mauldin (Johnny), all of Mocksville, Marie Melrose of Yadkinville, and Brenda Settles (Bobby) of Dobson; two brothers, Wayne Gunter and Terry Gunter, both of Mocksville; a special uncle, Monk Gunter; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services celebrating Gunter’s life will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Liberty Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Wallace officiating. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service and burial will follow in the church cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Harmony American Legion Post 113.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 9:00 PM Tuesday in the Troutman Memorial Chapel at Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony and at other time will be assembled at the residence.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.reavisfuneralhomeharmony.com.

Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony is entrusted with the arrangements.