NATCHEZ — Memorial services for Louis Vernon Gunning, 84, of Natchez, who died Friday, May 22, 2015, at his residence, will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Walton Jones officiating.

Burial will follow at St. James Cemetery in Fayette.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. Tuesday until time of service at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mr. Gunning was born Dec. 20, 1930, in Natchez, the son of William Vernon Gunning and Frances McGaughey Gunning.

He graduated from Natchez High School in 1949. He earned a chemical engineering degree at the University of Texas in 1954 and later an environmental engineering degree at Georgia Tech. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving two years in the U. S. Army. He retired from International Paper Co. in Natchez after 46 years of service. He was a Natchez Community Board member, a member of the St. Joseph Orchestra, J. C. Penny Golden Rule Award in 1996. Mr. Gunning was the director for the Stewpot for 24 years and the Natchez Democrat Citizen of the year in 2006. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He was a substitute science teacher at Cathedral School and also a member of the St. Mary Basilica Choir.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Delaney Gunning; four children; Joseph Louis Gunning of Natchez, Sharon Gunning Hamilton and husband, Andy, of Birmingham, Ala., John Michael Gunning of Natchez, and Mary Gunning Hewell and husband, Alan, of Gillsville, Ga.; and seven grandchildren, Elliot Ernst, Katie Ernst, Dylan Hamilton, Anderson Hamilton, Tatyana Hamilton, Madisen Hewell and Colton Hewell.

Memorials may be made to the Stewpot, P.O. Box 298, Natchez, MS 39120.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.