Mary Ellen Collette Gunter Peters

Mary Ellen Peters, 80, of West Columbia passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Born June 13, 1941, in St. Albans, Vermont, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Loretta Hommel Collette. A graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic High School, she chose to make the South her home in 1965 moving to Wagener, South Carolina to start her family; however, she was always a Yankee at heart.

Mary Ellen worked in Banking and Office Management before beginning her life-long career at the American Cancer Society in the mid-1970s. She touched countless lives of patients, volunteers and fellow staff during her 25-year career including writing the initial grant to the CDC to be able to offer breast/cervical screenings in SC to underserved populations. Her retirement was short-lived after retiring to the mountains of Virginia in 1998; she returned to West Columbia in 2005 and took a job as the Church Secretary for several years at Hope Lutheran Church in Irmo, SC where she also became a devoted member. Mary Ellen loved the Lord and her church and served in various areas of ministry wherever she was needed. She was known to knit quite a few baby blankets to gift new parents during her time at Hope. In addition to knitting, she was an avid reader, loved to cook for her family and taught a senior bible study at Tri-City Leisure Center. Mary Ellen had a passion for music and participated in many choral societies and choirs over the years singing soprano. Many people asked her to be a part of their wedding day by inviting her to sing special music, and she sang “O’ Holy Night” and other solos at many Christmas services at several churches over the years. In 2013, when her grandson James suffered a traumatic brain injury, she devoted several years to follow by his bedside while in facilities helping her daughter, attended many medical appointments and supported in any way she could until her health wouldn’t allow and even then, she still prayed faithfully. To sum up her life, accomplishments and passions in a paragraph is impossible. Mary Ellen was well-loved by all who knew her, and she spent time always giving of herself and in devotion to her Creator. She will be terribly missed by family foremost, but also by the many people who were blessed to call her friend.

She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Nicole Reely of Lexington; grandsons, James K. Gunter of Lexington, Cameron F. Reely of Charleston, Micheal Gunter of West Columbia; granddaughter, Jerica N. Gunter of West Columbia; great grandsons, Lazarus P. Gunter of West Columbia and Eli Gunter of Columbia; brother, John E. Collette (Donna) of Port Charlotte, FL and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Patrick Gunter and triplet siblings who died shortly after birth.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at Hope Lutheran Church, 1400 Kennerly Road, Irmo, SC with interment to follow at Southland Memorial Gardens at 700 W. Dunbar Road, West Columbia, SC. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel.

Flowers may be sent to Caughman-Harman Funeral Home at 503 N. Lake Drive, Lexington, SC or memorials may be made to Hope Lutheran Church, 1400 Kennerly Rd., Irmo, SC 29063.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the family of Mary Ellen.