Kaden Gunter

Kaden Gunter, 12, passed away Friday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville at 5:45 p.m.

His sweet soul touched the lives of many. He will forever be remembered as someone who would encourage, support, and love everyone he met.

Friends would describe Kaden as outgoing, motivational, kind, and always willing to help lift them up. Kaden was the type of person that would always make you feel included. He always had a smile on his face and always tried his best to see the positive in people. In his short life, he experienced life to the fullest. He loved playing football, basketball, and baseball. He also enjoyed riding his dirt bike, traveling, and camping. He started out playing tee-ball at the YMCA and continued playing many of his years going against friends at the Greeneville Parks and Recreation.

He was honored to be a Greene Devil. He loved his football family and Greeneville Middle School. His friends started the #KadenStrong movement and supported him during his time at the hospital. This year, one of his favorite accomplishments was making the Varsity Football Team as a 7th grader. He spent many hours on and off the field with his teammates, friends, and coaches. He always said football is family. He loved watching the Vols, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Boston Celtics, and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Kaden Cole Gunter was born Nov. 30, 2010. From the moment he was born, he kept his family on their toes. He was always trying to make people laugh and see people smile. In his elementary years at Tusculum View, he enjoyed winning Walk-a-Thon's and Read-a-Thon's. He took pride in getting to slime his principal, being principal of the day, and being a police officer for the day. Kaden wanted to be a police officer or a professional football player for the NFL.

Kaden loved his family and knew they always supported him in anything he wanted to do. He was very involved in his community and was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at school. He loved God and was saved. Him and a small group of football players would pray before every game. He would talk about how beautiful Heaven must be since it had all three of his grandmother's and cousins.

Survivors include his parents: Breanna Gunter, and Coleman Gunter and stepmother, Jessica Free-Gunter; two brothers: Alex and Oakley Gunter; a sister: Jerzie Gunter; his grandparents: Bill Williams "Papaw Buddy", Phil Gunter, and James Jones; great-grandparents: Doris and Carl Brown, Carol Goodman, Louise Gunter, J.T. and Lynda Brown, and C.J. Williams; aunts and uncles: Brooke and Mark Laughlin, and Shelby Jones; several cousins; and MANY special friends.

He was preceded in death by: Lori Williams "Mimi", Lisa Gunter "Mamaw Lisa", Julie Jones "Ganny", Elizabeth Grace Laughlin, and Claude Junior Gunter.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Friday and from 4-8 p.m. Saturday at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be Sunday at 2 p.m. in Burley Stadium (Greeneville High School Football Field).

Graveside services will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers will include Bryan Norton, Tyler Ricker, Jordan Gunter, Bentley Gunter, Jayden Cox, Gage Johnson, Taylnn Johnson, and Jason Cobb.