Evelyn Aileen Elizabeth Gross Gunter

April 20, 1937 - January 1, 2019

Evelyn Aileen Elizabeth Gross Gunter, age 81, passed away after a long, hard fought battle with cancer on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. She was born on April 20, 1937 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tacoma, Washington to Aileen Elizabeth (Ross) Gross and Morris Earl Gross. Evelyn graduated from Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, Washington in 1955. She married in 1960 and transferred from Pacific Bell to Southwestern Bell as an operator to Midland, Texas in 1961 where it took her a few years to adjust to the Texas accent. She fondly remembered talking to oilmen such as George H.W. Bush who she says was always a perfect gentleman. In 1968, Evelyn and her family were transferred by OXY to Tripoli, Libya then to Antwerp, Belgium. After briefly living in Houston, they moved back to Midland in 1973. Evelyn became a nurse (LVN) and worked for 25 years until she retired in 2007. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church where she was proud to be a member of Altar Guild for 41 years. She treasured her friendships with the ladies in Quilters who gave her such joy especially with their visits during her illness. The family would like to thank the members of Grace Lutheran Church and especially Pastor Pase and Pastor Allman for their spiritual comfort and support during her illness. Evelyn is survived by her two daughters, Durlene Gunter McNeese and her husband Danny of Midland, Texas and Kimberly Mayes of Carmel, Indiana; four grandchildren, Danielle McNeese of Edmond, Oklahoma, Lane McNeese and his wife Heather of Amarillo, Texas, Peyton Mayes and Huston Mayes of Carmel, Indiana and one great-granddaughter, Ella McNeese. Visitation will be at Ellis Funeral Home, 801 Andrews Hwy in Midland on Thursday, January 3, 2019 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 3000 W Golf Course Rd with burial to follow at Serenity Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 6800 S State Highway 349 in Midland. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of Midland or another local charity of choice.