M. Lucile (Cille) Ledbetter Gunter

M. Lucile (Cille) Ledbetter Gunter was born in Alpine, Ala., on Nov. 2, 1925. She made her graceful passage at 7:25 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 7, 2005, at her home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Robert (Bob) Gunter, and four children: Robert Jr. (Janie) of Redlands, Calif., David (Tami) Gunter of Sandpoint, Karen (Tracy) Cole of Post Falls, and Dawn (Michael) Lavallee of St. Paul, Alberta, Canada; as well as 12 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; one brother, Lowell Ledbetter; and one sister, Sarah Waller, both of Alabama.

Cille was a registered nurse and worked many years as a director of nursing in Southern California. For 10 years, before her retirement to Sandpoint, she was the program director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif.

She will be best remembered by those who loved her as a shining spirit whose smile warmed countless hearts and whose kindness touched lives and changed the world for the better. In every day and in any situation, Cille had a special gift for seeing the beauty in the people and places around her. She lived her life with a profound feeling of gratitude, a childlike sense of wonder and an inspired ability to enjoy life on its own terms.

Her legacy is one of deep faith in her Creator, love and support for her family and the many people she counted as friends, and a sincere appreciation for all things beautiful.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice organizations.