PEARL GUNTER FERRELL, age 97, a resident of Charleston, died Sunday, June 14, 2020 at the Charleston Manor.

She was born November 10, 1922 in Commerce to Samuel Adam and Maud Martin Gunter and lived in Charleston her entire life where she was a member of the Charleston Church of Christ.  Employed first as a beautician, she later worked at the Brown Shoe Company where she met her husband. In the late 1940's they opened Ferrell's Supermarket, operating it until they opened a new business, Furniture City, in 1971. She was a retailer for Merle Norman Cosmetics and Mary Kay Cosmetics for many years while assisting her husband. Following his death, she made the decision to sell Furniture City and her cosmetic business.  That decision provided the opportunity for her to pursue full time her life passions which included cooking, baking, quilting, knitting, needlepoint, crocheting, and sewing. In the final years of her life, as a resident of the Charleston Manor, she discovered her talent for adult coloring projects and gifted those she loved with her pictures.

In 1941 she married Harry "Doc" Ferrell who preceded her in death in 1984.

Surviving are three children, Harry Gunter Ferrell of Dyersburg, TN, Carolyn Malugen of Cape Girardeau, and Dianna (Buddy) Russell of East Prairie; five grandchildren, Jayne Ellen Russell  (Lance) Ray of Charleston, Mark Gunter (Jennifer) Malugen of Rogers, AR, James Martin (Crystal) Malugen of Jackson, Amy Lynne Ferrell Jerding of Dyersburg, TN, and Julie Anne Ferrell (Tom) Walker of Newburgh, IN; 14 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one son in law, Rev. Jim Malugen; one daughter in law, Janie Ferrell; four brothers, Sam A. Gunter, Robert Gunter, Elmer "Toad" Byrum and John Byrum; and one sister, Gertrude Byrum Grooms.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston from noon (12:00 p.m.) until the Funeral Hour at 2:00 p.m.  Pete Nuthak, pastor of the Charleston Church of Christ, and Joe Mooney, pastor of the First Christian Church of Charleston, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Pallbearers will be Mark Gunter Malugen, Mark Gunter Malugen Jr., Jamie Malugen, Lance Ray, Ben Ray, and Tom Walker.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Ferrell Elliott and Leo Elliott.