- Date Of Birth: January 22, 1946
- Date Of Death: October 17, 2018
- State: Texas
Patricia Ann Thornton Gunter, 72, of Clifton, Texas, formerly of Belton, Texas, passed away on October 17, 2018, after an extended illness.
Patricia Ann “Pat” Thornton was born on January 22, 1946, in Dallas, Texas. Her parents were Kenneth C. Johnson and Velma L. Collins.
Patricia Ann attended the Belton Independent School District, graduating from Belton High School on May 22, 1964.
Pat married her first husband Donald C. Smith on July 11, 1964 in Belton. She married her second husband James C. Gunter on April 27, 1992, at Keys Valley Baptist Church in Belton.
Pat had one child Donnie P. Smith (Paul) born on May 23, 1965.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents Kenneth C. Johnson and Velma L. Collins on October 16,1964; her husband’s Donald C. Smith, on July 24, 1989, and James C. Gunter on January 29, 2016; son Paul Smith on October 1, 2012; sisters Elsie McBride on April 27,2008 and Bernice Guthrie.
Through most of her life, Pat lived in Belton; during her last three years, she resided in Clifton.
During her professional life, Pat worked as a pharmacy technician; one her first jobs were at Gibson’s Pharmacy in Temple. She retired from Scott & White Hospital In-Patient Pharmacy in Texas after 25 years of service.
Pat attended Keys Valley Baptist Church in Belton. To her last breath, she continued to love Christ in steadfast faith and hope. As a volunteer, she lovingly served the Meals on Wheels program.
Her hobbies included reading novels (mostly Danielle Steele), solving crossword puzzles, drawing pictures, and bird watching.
Her family and friends remember her as a kind, caring, and giving person who loved children, enjoyed traveling, and loved singing in church on Sundays.
In retirement, Pat enjoyed traveling. Her trips coast to coast included: San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge), San Diego (Zoo), Las Vegas, Arizona (Grand Canyon), Texas Gulf Coast, South Dakota (Mount Rushmore), New York (Niagara Falls),Missouri (Branson), Tennessee (Gatlinburg and Dollywood), North Carolina (Paula Dean), and Louisiana (Duck Dynasty).
Survivors include step-children Sueann Vriseno of Belton, Texas; Jackie LaRue of Clifton, Texas; Cliff Gunter; and Linda Gunter; Daughter-in-law Montie Smith of Belton, Texas; grandchild Mary Karele Smith of Belton, Texas; step-grandchildren Dale Childs of Belton, Texas; Ally Bates of Belton, Texas; Jordan Vriseno of Belton, Texas; Ever Vriseno of Belton, Texas; and nieces and nephews Kathy Pickett of Belton; Nancy Guthrie of Florida; Faye Niles of Belton, Texas; Charles McBride of Belton, Texas; James McBride of Oklahoma; and Lisa Hale of Belton, Texas.
