Charles Leon Gunnells

Charles Leon Gunnells was born on January 20, 1937 in Dawson Oklahoma to Carl Leon Gunnells and Lorene Burger Gunnells. He moved with his mother to Baytown, Texas in 1949 to live with his aunt Mildred. Lorene married Odel Williams around 1950 and moved their little family to LaPorte, Texas.
Charles had an amazing drive and work ethic from a young age. He got his first job when he was just 13 years old. He went back to Tulsa during the summer months to work with his Uncle Jim Gunnells leveling land for home construction. Charles attended LaPorte High School where he played football all four years. Young Charles was good looking, outgoing and “popular with the ladies”. His senior year his parents paid $50 and one nickel for a Royal Blue 1941 Chevrolet coup. That year he started working at a gas station in LaPorte. He graduated in 1956. After graduation, he started working at the LaPorte Post Office delivering mail and working at the front desk. He met his future wife, Ann Dunlap, working at the post office together. They were married in 1958. They had three children, Rod, Manesa and Del. He built a home for his family near the bay in Seabrook. When Charles was just 35-year-old, He was sworn in as the youngest postmaster in a first-class office on February 4, 1972.
He married Martha Jo Bugery Nieburger on April 18, 1975. Charles and Jo Lived in Laporte. They purchased a lake house in Ashdown Arkansas in 1985. After his retirement from the LaPorte Post Office, they moved to Ashdown full-time. They enjoyed being on the lake and playing golf. They purchased an RV and traveled all over the United States together. They traveled to 26 out of 50 states. Outside the U.S., they travelled to Canadian British Columbia and sailed the British Virgin Islands. Charles had a great love for the outdoors. He loved fishing and hunting. Vern Gunnells “Uncle Red” put young 5-year-old Charles on his shoulders and took him squirrel hunting...That was the beginning of a lifelong love of hunting. He and his friends went on hunting/backpacking trips in Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming or Alaska every year. They got together once a year and threw huge annual wild game party in Seabrook. The urban legend was…the last big party had over 500 people! Extremely social, Charles enjoyed chatting and telling stories. He loved his Ashdown friends; they fondly called him "Chuck". They played golf together most days…even up until the last 3 weeks, he was still out on the green putting and chipping.

Charles loved to travel…he said, “he always wanted to see what’s over that next hill”. Happy trails Charles, we’ll see you over that next hill.

Charles passed away surrounded by loved ones on September 26, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents; Carl Leon Gunnells, Lorene Burger Williams and her husband Odel Williams, his wife Martha Jo Gunnells and his son Rodrick Charles Gunnells. He is survived by his daughter Manesa Gunnells, his son Del Gunnells and his wife Marra, grandsons Cole and Reid Gunnells, grandsons Weston and Calvin Gunnells, granddaughter Lauren Gunnells Gallagher and her husband Kevin, Great granddaughters Mia and Bryne Gallagher, granddaughter Jordan Gunnells Smith and husband David, great grandson Hayes Charles Smith, brother Gary Williams and his wife Linda, nephew Chris Williams and niece Anna Williams, Stepson Joey Nieburger and his wife Josey, grandson Zachary Nieburger and wife Katie, great grandchildren Kyson, Finnley and Hudson, Stepdaughter Dana Forsyth and husband David, and stepdaughter Denelle Neiburger, and his little buddy "Mighty".

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