Sept. 11, 1938 – July 6, 2013
Tommie Ray Guthrie, 74, of Sweet Home, died July 6, 2013 following a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
He was born Sept. 11, 1938 in Hugo, Okla., the son of Willie Tom and Alene (Wallard) Guthrie. He graduated from Santa Paula (Calif.) Union High School in 1958.
Mr. Guthrie married Melvina McCann on Nov. 16, 1958 in Santa Paula and had been married 54 years prior to her preceding him in death on Nov. 1, 2012.
He called Sweet Home his home for the last 35 years. He and his wife finished raising their sons in Sweet Home after relocating from Santa Paula. In Santa Paula, Mr. Guthrie was a lead line operator for Weyerhaeuser corrugated cardboard plant for 13 years. In Sweet Home, he worked for Willamette Industries Foster Division for 23 years in a range of positions such as dryer feeder to Letourneau log operator.
Mr. Guthrie was a self-taught mechanic, who until his death, was handy in the garage. He was always the first to volunteer his knowledge and time to his sons, from automobiles to home repair projects. He enjoyed the outdoors, camping and fishing with his family. He loved the thrill of finding a steal of a bargain at thrift stores. He truly loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the time he spent with them.
Mr. Guthrie is survived by his sons, Jerry of Creswell, Lonnie of Albany, and Ronnie of Sweet Home; sisters Regina Guthrie of Clovis, Calif. and Elizabeth Ann Guthrie of Porterville, Calif.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Melvina “Millie”; son Bobby Guthrie; and sisters Dorothy and Lila Mae.
Private burial was at the Lebanon I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.