Notes for: Elsie Leella Bodine
From Ronny Bodine:
From King County, Washington Marriage Records:
Thomas LeRoy Gunter of Pierce County AND Elsie Leella Bodine of Cowlitz County were married at Seattle on 13 April 1942 by (illegible signature), J.P.
Obituary, The Daily News (Longview, Wash.) of 18 Dec 2003.
Thomas "LeRoy" Gunter, 85, of Longview, died December 3, 2003 at home. He was born August 30, 1918 at home in Perry, Florida to Henry Thomas Gunter and Edith Ione (Carlton) Gunter, the first of their nine children. He attended Perry Primary School through 5th grade. As sharecroppers he helped his father raise southern farm crops. At the age of 17, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps., serving three years in Mississippi, Utah and Alabama. In 1940 he came from Florida to Washington, where he met Elsie Leella Bodine before being drafted into the US Army, in April of 1941. He married Elsie in April of 1942 before being shipped to Australia and New Guinea for two years. When he returned to the states, Elsie followed him to Camp Roberts, California and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He was discharged at Ft. Lewis, Wash. in 1945. In 1947 they moved onto the Brillert homestead on German Creek Rd. where they raised five children. He worked in the Long Bell cafeteria, M & M Plywood, Long Bell/International Paper and Weyerhaeuser-Plywood Division, mainly as a fork-lift operator. Elsie passed away in 1981, the same year he retired from Weyerhaeuser after 22 years. He was married to Mabel Sallee in 1984. He was a charter member of the Stella Lutheran Chapel, a member of the Bunker Hill Grange and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America, Local #2498. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, trips to Florida, spending time at his cabin at the beach and family reunions. He farmed and had a large garden for 50 years. He was a quiet person, a man of few words. He helped others in times of need including opening his home to family & friends during hard times. He will be greatly missed. Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mabel (Moore) Gunter at home; son, Michael Gunter of Longview; four daughters, Cheryl Burr, Erleane Jacobson, Linda Seidl all of Longview and Wanda Godinho of Castle Rock; step-daughter, Joyce Croy of Kelso; three brothers, William Gunter, Thomas Gunter both of Longview and Hullon Gunter of Eugene; three sisters, Callie Mae Mills of Perry, Florida, Geraldine Leggett of Longview and Jane Donaldson of Redmond; thirteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; thirteen step-grandchildren; a special nephew, Ottis Roberts of Gold Hill, Ore; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 39 years, Elsie (Bodine) Gunter and a granddaughter, Jackie Seidl; a brother, Avord Gunter; and a sister, Lois Whiddon; two step-sons, Norman Wickstrom and Edward Wickstrom. Private family graveside services, with a 21-gun salute, were held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, December 8, 2003 at the Bunker Hill Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. at the Stella Chapel fellowship hall. Pallbearers were Michael Gunter, Ottis Roberts and sons-in-law, Daniel Burr, Donald Jacobson, David Seidl and Joseph Godinho. Memorial contributions may be made to Peace Health Dialysis, Attn: Donald Prebus, St. John Medical Foundation, 600 Broadway, Longview, WA 98632 or the Stella Lutheran Chapel, 124 Sherman Road, Longview, WA 98632. Steele Chapel at Longview Memorial Park & Crematory was in charge of arrangements.