Louis Colter

Louis Colter Bellevue, MI August 29, 1932 - March 13, 2008 Louis E. "Gene" Colter, 75, of Bellevue, died March 13, 2008 at Battle Creek Health System. He was born August 29, 1932, the son of Harold and Mae (Dunphey) Colter in New Limerick, Maine. Gene graduated from Ricker Academy in Houlton, Maine and served in the U.S. Army from 1950 until 1953 in cryptology. He then worked as a truck driver for White House Ice Cream and McDonald's Dairy, retiring in 1993. He also drove school bus for Bellevue Schools. Gene was preceded in death by his first wife, Carla Avery who died in 1986. He then married Virginia Pufpaff in 1992. Virginia survives. He is also survived by daughters, Ellen West of Kalamazoo, Michelle (Pete) Denner of Battle Creek, Sally (Doug) Fierke of Battle Creek, Rebecca (Rick) DeSonia of Bellevue; son, David (Rhonda) Colter of Clarksville, Michigan; stepdaughters, Beth (Bill) Murray of Grand Rapids and Lisa Wright of Bellevue; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers, Norman Colter and Wendell Colter of Maine; and sisters, Phyllis Byron, Connie Friel, Hazel Cote, Pat Gentle, all of Maine and Bea Diede of Colorado. He was also preceded in death by his parents; son, Harold "Skeeter" Colter; brother, Beverly Colter; half-brother, Clifford Colter; and granddaughter, Audrey Wright. Gene was a member of Bellevue First Baptist Church. He enjoyed hunting, going to the casino, golf outings, playing cards with his friends and making an annual trip to Maine. Family will receive friends Sunday, March 17, 2008 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue. Services will take place 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 17, 2008 at Bellevue First Baptist Church, Pastor Don Francis, officiating. Interment, Riverside Cemetery, Bellevue. Memorials may go to American Cancer Society. The family is being served by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue. www.shaw funeralhome.com