Mary Elizabeth Gunter, 90, Quinter, died Thursday, July 23, 2015. She was born February 22, 1925 to Fred L. and Edna R. (Baughman) Gerlach in Villisca, Iowa.
During her early childhood, Mary lived in Newton, Iowa and Columbia, Missouri, and started first grade in Louisiana, Missouri. She continued her grade school in Sedalia, Missouri and Manhattan, Kansas, where she entered high school and graduated in 1945. She entered Kansas State College in 1945.
She met Carl C. Gunter as her lab partner in organic chemistry in 1946 and they were married February 1, 1948. They then moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where Carl was a medical student. In 1949, they moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where Carl finished his medical training. During this time, Mary worked in the Pathology Department. In 1952, they moved to Quinter, Kansas, where Carl went into medical practice with his medical school classmate, Dr. Herman W. Hiesterman, and Dr. Ben Morris.
Mary became a homemaker and mother of two children. The family spent one year, 1959-60, in Portland, Oregon, where Carl served a surgery residency. Following that, they returned to Quinter to spend the rest of their lives.
Mary was active in civic affairs and was a member of the Quinter United Methodist Church, Jay Johnson Public Library Board, Smoky Hill Country Club, the Uptown Bridge Club, Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, a Cub Scout Leader, and a volunteer at Clothes Like New & Things. She enjoyed golfing, hiking, hunting, skiing, painting, gardening, woodworking, sewing, quilting and traveling.
Survivors include a daughter, Sally E. Gager and husband, Rick, Hays; and a son, Kurt C. Gunter and wife, Carrie-Ann, The Woodlands, Texas; and four grandchildren, Timothy J., Jonathan C., and Jacob C. Gunter, and Sara Gager.
She was preceded in death by her husband on November 19, 2009, and her brother, William B., in 1980.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 8, 2015, at the United Methodist Church, Quinter, Kansas, with visitation at 10 a.m. at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the Quinter Ambulance Service, Quinter United Methodist Church, or the Jay Johnson Public Library, Quinter. Memorials may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th St., WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Condolences to www.schmittfuneral.com