Barry Eugene "Gene" Gunnels Sr.

experiencing complications from pulmonary fibrosis on January 7, 2013.

Gene was born to Jack and Hazel Carpenter Gunnels on September 9, 1943 in Dallas, TX.

It was in Dallas that he met and married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Elaine Walters in

1962. They moved to Longview in 1967. While there he and Elaine were very active at Mobberly

Avenue Baptist Church serving in various ways from driving a church bus to teaching a Sunday School

class. Gene loved the Lord and willingly served in any way God could use him. In 1992 they moved to

Tyler, TX where they were active members of Sylvania Baptist Church and then Green Acres Baptist

Church. He was the current president of the South Tyler Camp for Gideons International and would

spend hours handing out bibles and praying for and with people. Even in his last days he was sharing

God's word from his hospital bed!

He worked in sales for Watson Electric, Sale Electric and Warren Electric before rheumatoid arthritis

forced him into an early retirement. In his last few years he enjoyed occasionally driving for various car

lots and the fellowship it brought him. He was a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic.

Gene was a people person, always ready to lend a helping hand and had a very quick wit, loving to bring

smiles and laughter when he could and was loved by so many. He knew he lived a very blessed life and

was so grateful to God for that. He will be missed very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Hazel. He leaves behind his wife, Ramona Elaine

Walters Gunnels of Tyler; daughter Elaine Michelle Gunnels Rix and her husband Randy of

Whitehouse; son, Barry Eugene Gunnels, Jr. and his wife Joanna Baker Gunnels, of Pflugerville;

two grandsons Stephen Rix of Tyler and Matthew Rix, currently serving in the USAF in Yokota,

Japan, two granddaughters Madelyn and Kennedy Gunnels of Pflugerville and two great-grandsons

Cameron and Brandon Rix, of Tyler; brothers Eddie Gunnels and wife Marilyn, of Whitehouse, Jack Gunnels, Jr. and wife Betty, of Dallas, Mike Gunnels and wife Jill, of Dallas, Greg Gunnels and wife, Julie, of Dallas,

and sister Kay Hastings and husband, Phil of Garland and several nieces and nephews

and a host of friends and other family members.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Green Acres Baptist Church Building Fund 1607 Troup Hwy., Tyler, TX 75701 or Gideon’s International, Tyler South Gideon’s Camp, P. O. Box 130821, Tyler, TX, 75713.

Services for Mr. Gunnels will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 11, 2013 at Green Acres Baptist Church Chapel with Brother Lanny Bridges officiating. Entombment will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Longview. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m., Thursday at Lloyd James Funeral Home.