Lewis C. Gunstream, Jr., 79, of Orange, TX, passed away Monday, January 5, 2009 at the Harbor Hospice House in Beaumont, TX.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 8, 2009 at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Officiating will be Rev. Barry Bradley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orange. Burial will follow at Autumn Oaks Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at Claybar Funeral Home.

Mr. Gunstream was a native and lifelong resident of Orange. He retired from Firestone after 33 years. He was an avid gardener and shared his fruits of labor with many. He loved His Lord and was a faithful member of First Baptist Church. He loved spending time with his family and was very proud of his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mollie and Lewis C. Gunstream, Sr.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Nancy; their children, Terry Ferguson and husband Tracy of Colorado City, TX, Lynda Gunstream and husband John Bailey Heard of Orange, Holly Brown and husband David of Grand Junction, CO, Mark Gunstream and wife, Susan of Orange; grandchildren, Cynthia, Justin, Caleb, Matthew and Michelle Brown, Luke and Ryan Gunstream; aunts, Mattie Trahan and Katie Vaughn of Orange.

Serving as pallbearers will be Gerald Rach, J.D. Quarles, Charles Phillips, Mark Ferrell, Tracy Ferguson and John Heard. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of First Baptist Church of Orange.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to the new building fund of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1453, Orange, TX 77631.