To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 9/15/23 • Approved: 9/15/23 • Last Updated: 9/18/23 • R1501362-G1501362-S3
Joe
February 12, 1939 - October 7, 2022
Mary
October 15, 1943 - July 31, 2009
Joe Knighten Gunnels, 83, of Magnolia, Arkansas passed away Friday, October 7, 2022. Knighten was born on February 12, 1939, in Atlanta, Arkansas, to the late Robert Carroll "Buster" and Chlorie M. (Nesbit) Gunnels. He was a long-time member of Antioch East Baptist Church.
Knighten was a talented draftsman who was known all over the Southeast for his drafting skills. In 1969, he came back to Magnolia and became a partner in his father's business, Gunnels Mill, Inc. His father ran the sawmill, and Knighten took over the logging operation until 1990 when his son Rob joined the business. Soon after, his daughter Melissa also joined the business, and-at one point-four generations were working at the mill when his grandson, Austin, worked there while attending college.
Knighten was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed many duck and deer hunts at his camps in McGehee, Arkansas City, and Bradley. He especially enjoyed his last dove hunt with a host of family and friends, some of whom he had hunted with for over 50 years. He also enjoyed piloting his own plane for many years.
Knighten is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary (Davison) Gunnels, wife Mary (Aycock) Gunnels, sister Carolyn Hudson Newcomb, son Stephen Gee, and niece Robin Craft.
Survivors are his wife, Glenda (Phillips) Gunnels; sister Belinda Cook of El Dorado; sons Rob (Deidra) Gunnels of Magnolia, and Brett (Alice Ann) Gee of Bryant; daughters Michelle (John) Jimmerson of Ruston, Louisiana; Melissa Green of Magnolia; and Meridith (Charlie) Bateman of Texarkana. He is also survived by grandchildren Caleb (Lexi) Bateman of Jonesboro; Zach Gee of Bryant; Austin (fiance Emily) Gunnels of Magnolia; Lilla (fianc Chris) Jimmerson of Bossier City, Louisiana; Max Braswell of Magnolia; Jessie and Missy Gunnels of Magnolia; Jessika and Robbie Shelton of Bryant; as well as great-grandchildren Cannon and Steele Bateman of Jonesboro. Knighten is survived by nieces Kathy (Lindsey) Sims of Laurel, Mississippi, and Lisa (J. P.) Antoon of Magnolia, and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews and friends.
Visitation will be on Friday, October 14, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. in Magnolia. The funeral service will be held Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Antioch East Baptist Church with Bro. Ron Owen officiating. Burial will follow at Antioch East Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Joe Willett, Buster Caver, Will Roberson, Mike McWilliams, Shane McClelland, and David Braswell. Honorary Pallbearers will be Gene Dees, Bo Tissue, Terry Young, John Black, and Harold Rogers.
The family requests that any memorials be made to the Antioch East Cemetery Association (370 Columbia 25, Magnolia, AR 71753) or to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, Magnolia/Columbia County Event.
Contributed on 9/15/23 by debbraszymanski
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1501362