John L. Gunnels

John L. Gunnels, 72, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of La Grande, died May 9 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla.

Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater, with Roger and Vivian Jorgensen officiating. Concluding services and burial will be in the Milton-Freewater Cemetery.

Mr. Gunnels was born April 15, 1935, to Leslie H. and Marjorie (Blair) Gunnels in Ava, Mo. He attended school in Ava until he was a teenager, at which time his family moved from Missouri to the Milton-Freewater area.

Mr. Gunnels served in the Army in Korea. On Dec. 27, 1955, he married Betty Lou Brown in Walla Walla. After his discharge from the service, he returned to Milton-Freewater and worked as a welder for Key Equipment until the late 1960s.

In the early 1970s he began logging with his brother Herman.

The family then lived in La Grande. Mr. Gunnels sold his portion of the business, but he continued driving log truck until retiring in 1991, when he moved back to Milton-Freewater. He then bought and sold cars, worked at flea markets and helped his daughter at the Olds Town Restaurant.

He loved camping and visiting with friends. He also enjoyed playing cards and the game of aggravations.

Survivors include his children, Rhonda Sartin of Milton-Freewater, Susie Corbin of Pendleton and Johnny Gunnels of Imbler, sister, Louise Clark of La Grande, close friend, Erma McLoughlin of Milton-Freewater, 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife in 2001 and his brothers, Herman and Otis Gunnels.

Memorials may be made to the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center in care of Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, Milton-Freewater.