J.R. Gauntt

J.R. (John) Gauntt of Moses Lake and East Wenatchee passed away peacefully at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee on Sunday, May 15th, due to medical complications.

J.R. was born to John Rite and Mary Maude Gauntt in East Texas on August 14, 1918. He married Levita Irene Haley on June 2, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico, where they made their home until 1953.

J.R. served honorably in the United States Army Air Corps from 1940 to 1945, in the U.S. and Europe as a Staff Sergeant.

The family moved to the Columbia Basin in 1953 where they bought property in Block 40. They farmed there for many years and raised their family. They owned and operated the "Auction House" on Broadway Extended in the 1950's. J.R. was a lifetime member of the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) and was the manager of the Pioneer Memorial Gardens in Moses Lake, owned by the IOOF. He was also a volunteer at Moses Lake Senior Center. He loved helping others.

J.R. is preceded in death by his sisters Mary, Myrtle, Verna, and his brother Ray. He was the last of his family's generation.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, Levita, his children Dawn (Dave) Smith of Wenatchee, Chep (Kay) of Kennewick, Kern (Wanda) of Richland, and Kim (Judy) of Dundee, OR, nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 21, at 10 am, in the Presbyterian Church, on Ivy Street, Moses Lake. In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be made to Gideon International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN, 37214-0800. Email: tgi@gideons.org.