Vera Mae Gunter

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the angels came to take one of their own, Vera Mae Lawrence Gunter, to meet her precious Saviour, Jesus Christ, face to face.

On Friday, February 27, 2026, family and friends will celebrate her life at Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Airline Drive in Bossier City, LA. Visitation will begin at 10 AM, with the service beginning at 11 AM, followed by interment at Rose-Neath Cemetery on Swan Lake Road in Bossier City, LA. Reverend Howard Davis will officiate.

Vera was born on December 5, 1939, in Pineville, LA, to William Richard and Gussie Mae Cloessner Lawrence. Her family moved to Jonesville, and then to Glenmora.

Vera was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, and “Mimi.” She loved and fed many other mothers’ children throughout her lifetime – not only with delicious food, but more importantly with the Spirit of God. Vera taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and served as a youth chaperone. She also cooked for many church functions and did whatever else was needed for her church. She spent her life serving Jesus Christ through her service to others.

She lovingly cared for three generations of her family, giving them comfort, care, and special treatment to help them through their trials and pain. Her Lord and Saviour and her family were her heart. She knew many lean times both as a child and as a mother, but with her faith, she sacrificed for those she loved and persevered.

She loved her children and grandchildren and supported them in as many activities as she could. She attended as many church and school functions, baseball and football games, gymnastics competitions, and piano recitals and competitions as was possible.

While in grade school, she had to work in her uncle’s grocery store that her parents managed. She remembered the smell of freshly baked Wonder bread that was delivered in boxes outside of the store in the mornings. She learned to cut meat, and throughout her life, many times when using a paper towel to wrap something, she would fold the paper towel like she folded the butcher paper. She also began to cook at a young age, saying that she and her brother cooked on a burner in the store because her parents worked such long hours. That chore of cooking began decades ago of cooking and baking. She was known for her homemade biscuits and her roast gravy – loved by all who sat at her table, and she loved to cook for others.

Vera loved to read and write. As a young woman, she wrote for her small-town newspaper in Glenmora and was asked to rewrite articles written by others, especially wedding announcements. She also wrote a few articles for The Alexandria Daily Town Talk newspaper.

She loved to read The Bible, and when macular degeneration robbed her of that, she loved to have someone read The Bible to her. Her Bible was marked with so many passages, and she once said she considered The Bible her “workbook.” She wrote down Bible verses and displayed them where she could read them and remember them. One such verse was Matthew 16:10, where Jesus said:

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

In her younger days, she wanted to be a nurse, and although she never worked as a nurse, she lovingly bandaged many cuts and scrapes and nursed family members back to health during many illnesses and surgeries, often making sacrifices to take care of others. She attended college 25 years after graduating from high school and obtained a high B average in the one semester she was able to attend. She also attended Vo-Tech, where she did well in drafting class.

For many years, she served her community as Commission and Commissioner-in-Charge for elections in Caddo and Bossier parishes.

She was a beacon of light and comfort to the staff while she lived at the nursing home for almost 3 years in her late 70’s– many commented how they loved to visit with her in her homey room.

At age 80, she left the nursing home and moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, and she developed a deep-felt love for the “Christmas shoeboxes.” For three years, she helped unpack and package items for her former church’s shoeboxes and helped label the boxes after they were packed. For three years at home, she helped package, unpack, and pack almost 120 shoeboxes. She loved putting fancy hair accessories, cute underwear and socks, and jewelry into bags for the children, as well as helping decorate the inside of the shoebox lid. She filled hundreds of plastic boxes with soap and crayons. Through five years, her loving hands and generous heart helped with over 320 shoeboxes. She loved children and loved giving gifts. With the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, she was able to help give children, their families, and their community around the world the most loving gift of all – the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And she loved to hear that other people were packing shoeboxes, too.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents, William Richard and Gussie Mae Cloessner Lawrence; her husband of 62 years, Walter Ray Gunter; infant son, Bradley Gunter (who died February 22, 1967); great-granddaughter, Gabriella Gunter; and brother, John Arnold Lawrence.

Vera is survived by her three children, Richard (Betty) Gunter of Benton, LA, Karen (Roy) Conly of Jamestown, LA, and Jeff Gunter of Dallas, TX; grandsons, Derek (Heather) Gunter of Benton, LA, Jake of Benton, LA and (Lala) Gunter of Edinburg, TX, Bradley (Yajaira) Gunter of Missouri City, TX; and great-grandchildren Liam and Nolan Gunter of Benton, LA, and Naomi and Nylah Gunter of Edinburg, TX.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Derek, Jake, and Bradley Gunter, and family friend Spencer Moses.

Vera had many health issues throughout her life, and in her last 30 years, had multiple diseases to deal with. But she was always kind and thankful to all the medical personnel who cared for her and helped her in her journey through it all. She knew that God used her and her illnesses to teach many lessons to the medical staff. She was blessed to have been under the care of Dr. Marion Cash, Dr. Larry Broadwell, and Dr. J. Paul Swearengen for 30 years or more by each physician, and the family wishes to thank them and their staff.

Throughout her 86 years, Vera experienced many trials and much pain, but her spirit personified Philippians 4:13:

“I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.”