LaRue Daniels Gunter

LaRue Daniels Gunter, 82, passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at the home of her daughter in Blackfoot, Idaho.

Born August 28, 1934 in Pocatello, Idaho to Thomas C. and Ora Curtis Daniels. She spent the first years of her life in Arbon, Idaho, prior to moving with her ailing father first to Arizona and eventually Boise. Much to LaRue’s joy, they would return to Arbon where she would meet her eventual husband. She loved the Arbon Valley.

She met Wesley Gunter at the age of 11 and knew from that day on that he would be her husband. On January 27, 1951, at the age of 16, she married Wes. They would move to Pocatello where each of their 4 children would be born. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho, Falls LDS Temple in 1961. The family later moved to McCammon.

LaRue always loved people and was called to the nursing field because of it. As an L.P.N., she worked for various hospitals and organizations for nearly 40 years. She and Wes were also foster parents and helped raise her 2 youngest brothers, Tom (Butch) and Alvin. Alvin had Down’s syndrome, lived with Wes and LaRue, and was the light of their life. LaRue, Wes and Alvin were often called The 3 Roommates. In 1995, the family would build a group home in McCammon for Alvin and other developmentally disabled adults.

LaRue’s greatest loves were reading, gardening and her dogs. She had a great sense of humor. She was known for being proud of being a terrible cook! LaRue was blessed with 3 life-long friends: Tina Tyler, Kay Andersen and Roma Eskelsen.

Since Wes’s passing, LaRue lived with her daughter and son-in-law Marlean and Kyle Dunn in Blackfoot. She had a special home teacher, Curtis Smith, whom she loved very much.

LaRue is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Jean Evans and Virgie Powell; brothers, Jack, Butch and Alvin Daniels; a granddaughter, Mandy Dunn; and a son-in-law, Mike Dunn.

She is survived by her children, Donam Gunter, Marsha Dunn, Marlean (Kyle) Dunn, and Lynette (Jerry) Rowe; one sister, Marylou Christensen; her sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Norman Reisner; 16 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and, 5 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 26 at 12 noon in the McCammon LDS Stake Chapel. Friends may visit with the family Wednesday from 6-8p.m. at Horsley’s Marsh Valley Funeral Home and Thursday at the church from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Burial will take place in the Arbon Cemetery.