James Elijah “Jimmy” Gunter, 92, of Jackson’s Gap, Alabama, passed away into the arms of Jesus on Friday, September 21, 2018, at Bethany House in Auburn. Jimmy was born on May 16, 1926 in Ashland, Alabama, to the late Ollie Ray Gunter and Corine Tomlinson Gunter. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Barbara Lockhart Gunter and two sisters, Kathryn Gunter Chappell and Faye Gunter Lisatinski.
Jimmy moved to Auburn with his family in 1940 where he lived most of his life. He served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps in WWII from 1944-1946. After returning home from WWII, he attended Auburn Polytechnic Institute.
While pursuing his education at Auburn, Jimmy realized his love was a career in automobile sales and he pursued his dream. He was a successful new and used car salesman at Tiger Motor Company in Auburn where he received many awards from Ford Motor Company. In 1956, he purchased Tiger Motor Company where he was the Ford dealer in Auburn and, later, also the Mercury dealer in Lee County.
He loved his customers and considered it a pleasure helping them find the perfect car for their family. He sold Tiger Motor Company in 1986. He and his wife, Barbara, moved to Jacksons Gap, AL in 1998 where they enjoyed living at Lake Martin.
He liked having a garden in the summer and, in his later years, he spent time riding his tractor on his farm land. He loved his Marine Corp League and he was also a Mason. He loved his family and was a devoted and loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend.
He loved his Sunday School class at First Baptist Church of Dadeville where he had many wonderful friends. Jimmy is survived by his three daughters who he loved with all his heart: Connie Gunter Sellers (Larry); Dorinda Gunter Miller (Gary); and Dixie Gunter Paschal (Noel). He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Christy Sellers Duffey (Miles); April Miller Smith (Jake); Cory Gunter Sellers (Carrie); Tracy Miller Rush (Travis); Dustin Paschal; Garrett Paschal; and Baylor Paschal.
He is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren: Ansley Ayers, Tad Smith, Trent Reed, Trevor Rush, Miller Reed, Nathan Sellers, Tatum Rush, Evelyn Sellers, Turner Smith, Caleb Sellers, Tenley Rush; sisters: Eunetta Gunter Bondurant, Ollie Gunter Compton, Linda Gunter Dever and several nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life Service for Jimmy will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika, Alabama with burial immediately following at Auburn Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be an hour before the service at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Ben Hayes of First Baptist Church Dadeville is officiating.
The family would like to express their love, appreciation and heartfelt thanks to the wonderful nurses and staff at Bethany House for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Compassus Hospice, 665 Opelika Road, Suite 200, Auburn, AL 36830; Bethany House, 1171 Gatewood Drive, Building 100, Auburn, AL 36830; First Baptist Church Dadeville, 178 Tallassee Street, Dadeville, AL 36853. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directing.
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