Cynthia Anne Gamewell Halter, known to all as Cindy, went home to her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, at Saint Francis Medical Center, surrounded by her family.

Cindy was born Jan. 22, 1952, in St. Louis to the late Joseph T. and Joyce C. Hoff Gamewell.

She was a graduate of Berkeley High School and received her bachelor's and master's in elementary education at Southeast Missouri State University.

Cindy was a first- and second-grade teacher and reading specialist, beginning her career at Chaffee, Missouri, and Marquand, Missouri, schools. She then began what became a 27-year career at Cape Girardeau elementary schools. She retired from formal teaching in 2004, but continued to share her love for reading and education with her grandchildren.

Cindy also volunteered for 25 years with Birthright in Cape Girardeau, providing love, support and hope to women facing unplanned pregnancies.

Cindy married the love of her life, David W. Halter, on Aug. 11, 1973, in St. Louis. They had many adventures and celebrated unceasing love over their 44 years of marriage, building incredible friendships with lifelong companions.

Cindy and David were blessed with two children, Brad (Jodie) Halter of Lubbock, Texas, and Carrie (Darren) Burgfeld of Cape Girardeau. Also surviving are her husband, David Halter; her mother, Joyce Gamewell of St. Louis; four grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Kaydyn, Layla and Lawson; a brother, William (Nancy) Gamewell of St. Louis; nieces and nephews and many beloved extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph T. Gamewell.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau, with parish prayers at 7 p.m.

The Rev. Bobby Manso will celebrate a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Vincent de Paul in Cape Girardeau, with interment to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Cindy was loved by many, and her family wishes to honor her legacy and preserve her memory.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Birthright of Cape Girardeau at http://birthright.org/en/landingpage/lp-capegirardeau or St. Jude Children's Hospital at http://stjude.org.