Joan Lee Gunter, 66, of Doraville, GA, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at her residence.  She was born April 24, 1946 in Murphy, NC and moved to Georgia in 1965.  She was preceded in death by her father, James A. Guthrie, and son-in-law, John E. (Bud) Dean, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lindsey and Dorothy Paul Gunter.  She is survived by her mother, Mary Lovetta Guthrie; her husband of 47 years, James Clyde Gunter; three daughters, Gloria D. Dean of Buford, GA, Sandra G. Lewis of Doraville, GA, Melissa A.  Chatham and her husband, Keith B. Chatham of Alpharetta, GA; seven grandchildren, Joshua A. Lewis, James N. Dean and his wife, Trisha A. Dean, Jessica N. Dean, Jennifer N. Dean, Johanna N. Dean, Shelby A. Smallwood and Robert A. Smallwood; two brothers, Freddie James Guthrie and his wife, Delores Guthrie, Ronald William Guthrie and his wife, Beverly Guthrie; one sister, Mary Loretta Ailey; many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 5th, at Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home in Norcross.  Burial will follow at North Atlanta Memorial Park in Doraville.  The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday, August 4th, and from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday prior to the service at the funeral home.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com.  Arrangements by Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home, 5051 Peachtree Ind. Blvd., Norcross, GA 30092, (770) 448-5757.