Loren Dean Gunnels, 75, Harrisonville, Missouri, died Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 8, 2012 at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville. Friends may call from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 7 at the chapel. Burial will be in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville.
Loren was born October 19, 1936 in Drexel, Missouri, the son of Earl Dean and Lillian LaVaun (Purkey) Gunnels. He married Patricia Ann Lynn on November 1, 1957. He served in the U. S. Army, driving a tank. Loren worked for Martin Marietta Aggregates in Greenwood, Missouri before retiring. Prior to that, he owned several full service gas stations and truck stops in the Harrisonville area.
He was a member of the Cass Masonic Lodge No. 147 in Harrisonville. He loved joking, giving advice and spending time with his family. Loren loved to travel, spending the last 5 years traveling in his RV. He particularly liked Arizona, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Loren was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Patricia on April 2, 2007, two brothers, Ronald Dean Gunnels and Fred Gunnels (infant) and one sister, Wanda Gunnels. He is survived by one son, Bill Gunnels and his wife, Terri, Calhoun, Missouri; four daughters, Rebecca Hansen, Brenda Keeney and husband, Pat, Deana Fordyce and Rhonda Conran and husband, Tim, all of Harrisonville, Missouri; one brother, Merlin Gunnels, Drexel, Missouri; one sister, Corrine Lisher and husband, Ray, Lawrence, KS; one sister-in-law, Carolyn Gunnels, Drexel, Missouri; 13 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 4 step-great-grandchildren; and his companion, Carol Binder, Archie, Missouri.
