Gunter Cemetery

The Gunter cemetery had its origin as a family graveyard on the homestead of William Williams Gunter (1861-1940).  He was an early settler in Limestone County, Texas. The first burial took place when Evan Gunter died in 1893.  He was the infant son of William Williams and Laura Eudemia Gunter. The Gunters had thirteen children. The burial grounds have grown to include five more of their sons and three daughters. The last family burial to take place in the cemetery was September 16, 1999 when Laura Bell Gunter Smith died.  She was a granddaughter of the Gunters.

The Gunter cemetery is located on Limestone County Road 662. It is 5.4 miles from Kosse to Coit on Farm to Market Road 339 and the cemetery is 3 miles from Coit. Groesbeck, the county seat of Limestone County, is twenty three miles away. It is clearly shown on the Texas Department of Transportation Map of Limestone County.  The cemetery is protected on all four sides by a chain link fence. A double entrance gate faces an even now traveled road known as the "Gunter Road".

Descendants of the Gunters have always seen that great care was taken of this small, family cemetery. Even with depopulation of this rural part of Limestone County, all the stone markers have remained undisturbed. Some of the oldest ones are in need of minor repair and cleaning. A cedar tree heavily damaged by nature and age, was planted when the cemetery had its beginning in 1893.  It still stands today.  

William Williams "Billie" Gunter was the son of John William Gunter and Elizabeth Alston Jones.  The family, including his half brothers, John, Nathaniel and Seth Jones, came to Limestone County after the Civil War.  Kosse was reached by the Houston and Texas Central Railroad in 1871 and the city government was being formed.  After his Mother died, his Father married Mrs. Elizabeth Simmons and relocated to Wortham, Texas.  "Billie" Gunter continued to live in Kosse area with his half brothers.  He and his wife, Laura Eudemia Williams attended the Tidwell Methodist Church. Their children were Evan, Henry, Macon, Lottie, Anna, William, Lewis, Carl, John, Alford "Fred", Grace, Laura and Wesley.  Funeral services were held for William Williams Gunter (1861-1940) on the porch and yard of his two-story home. The choir was on the porch and ministers from the Baptist Methodist and Presbyterian churches spoke. He is buried by his wife who preceded him in death in 1937 in the Gunter cemetery.

Surnames of those buried in the Gunter cemetery include Gunter, Garrett, Mitchell, Smith, Davis, Yates, Rankin and Springfield. The Gunters' six sons that are buried there are Evan, Henry, Macon, William, Alfred, and Lewis. Henry was only nine when he died in 1905.  Macon (1861- 1963) and wife, Belle Crockett (1891-1982) and six of their children are buried there. Their son Alston was killed in World War II. Macon was a successful farmer and businessman and never left the Kosse area.  William "Willie" (1888-1919) and wife Florrie (1889-1964) are buried there.  "Willie" died in Alpine, Texas but was brought back to his parents' farm for burial.  Lewis (1898-1954) and Fred (11854-1936) were farmers in the Kosse area. They are both buried there as is Lewis' wife Grace Dillon (1908-1979). William Williams and Laura Gunter's daughters, Grace Aleene (1910-1913) Lottie (1890-1982) and Anna (1891-1984) were laid to rest there. Lottie, Anna and their brother John (1903-1997) all lived to be over ninety years-old. Lottie, her husband George Garrett (1883-1968) and their three infant children's final resting place is the Gunter cemetery. Lottie was a historian and her recall was considered remarkable. She played the piano at the Presbyterian Church in Coit. Anna Mitchell and her husband Frank Mitchell (1888-1961) and two of their four children are buried there. Their son Frank, buried there, was a longtime civic and business leader in Kosse. He was a veteran of World War II, banker and member of the Masonic Lodge.  A single headstone simply reads twins of Annie and Lee Springfield (1904). Rankin (1929) and "Grandmother" Rankin (1923). Mr. Rankin had worked on the farm for William Williams Gunter for twenty-five years and was of no kin.

Family members administer the cemetery at this time. Aurelia Ragan, a granddaughter of the Gunters owns the land that has common borders with the cemetery. Many memorials are given periodically which helps to pay for the upkeep. Family members see that the grass and weeds are mowed when needed. A yearly "Gunter Gathering" is held every September in Kosse.