He was born Dec. 7, 1934, in Glasgow, Ky., the son of Jesse Clay and Melissa Mae (Houge) Gunnels. He was raised on a farm outside Glasgow, where he attended rural schools. He moved to Peoria, Ill., in the early 1950s. He lived in Peoria and Wyandotte County before moving to Ottawa.

Mr. Gunnels served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1956. He worked as a carpenter and a mechanic. He retired in 1987 and afterwards worked occasional jobs. He was a past member of the National Rifle Assn.

He married Pattee Ann Dyer on July 3, 1958, in Peoria, Ill. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Teresa Belfield, Ottawa; two sons, Edward and Robert, both of Ottawa; four sisters, Barbara Jean Basham, Mildred Elmor, Dobie Glass, and Willey Neal Glass, all of Kentucky; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Friends may call after 9 a.m. Thursday at Lambs-Roberts-Heise Funeral Home in Ottawa, where family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Friends and family will gather at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Friday and go to the cemetery in procession.

The family suggests memorials to Meals on Wheels or Franklin County Veterans Assn., sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa 66067.