Rev. Dr. Doyce Walton Gunter

Tupelo - Rev. Dr. Doyce Walton Gunter, 84, passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. On March 8, 1935, he was born to John Lorenzo and Eulala Moore Gunter in Alabama. Rev. Dr. Doyce W. Gunter became a Methodist minister in 1953, and served in the North Alabama Conference for 25 years. In 1978, he transferred to the North Mississippi Conference of the UMC which later became the Mississippi Conference. Doyce served in various charges and agencies until his retirement in 2004 with 51 years of service.

Doyce attended Snead Junior College and graduated from Florence State College, now known as University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama, where he met Anita Ruth Schumpert from Shannon. Doyce and Anita were married on June 1, 1958. Anita was never ordained by the church but she was always a partner to Doyce in the ministry. They were married for 54 years before Anita's death on July 30, 2012.

In 1962, Doyce received his Master of Divinity Degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University and in 1976, he received his Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in Rural Church Development also from Candler School of Theology, Emory University.

Rev. Dr. Gunter served as the first director of the Upper Sand Mountain Parish in North Alabama, as the second Executive Director of Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, North Carolina, and in 1989 was chosen as President of Wood College in Mathiston, Miss. where he served for seven years. In addition to these special appointments he served many local rural churches as pastor through the years. He retired from the United Methodist Ministry after serving as pastor of Sardis United Methodist Church for 8 years which was his longest pastorate. Upon retirement, he and Anita moved to a cottage at Traceway Retirement Community in Tupelo.

Survivors include his son, Timothy A. Gunter of Atlanta, Georgia; daughter, Nancy C. Gunter and her spouse, Tracy Walker of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Doris Gunter of East Hartford, Connecticut; brother-in -law, David Auxier of Murphysboro, Illinois; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; and numerous friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Anita Gunter; parents, John and Eulala Gunter; four brothers, Lorenzo Gunter and his wife, Gladys, O.D. Gunter, Arlen Gunter and John Gunter, Jr.; and five sisters, Eileen Auxier, Leanna Sexton and her husband, Hardin, Wilma Webster and her husband, Brewster, Rosa Brumlow and her husband, Cary, and Yvonne Walden.

Visitation will be 4 until 7 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2019, at W.E. Pegues, Tupelo and one hour prior to service time Saturday, May 25, 2019, at Wesley United Methodist Church.

Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019, at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev. Roger Puhr, Rev. Andy Ray and Rev. Dr. Jimmy Barnes officiating. Graveside services will follow in Brewer Cemetery. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ICC Wesley Foundation, PO Box 311, Fulton, MS 38843, Wesley United Methodist Church, PO Box 2434, Tupelo, MS 38801 and Hinton Rural Life Center, PO Box 27, Hayesville, North Carolina 28904, or to a charity of your choice.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .