Carolyn Guthrie, 71, of Bowling Green, Ky., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center at 8:50 p.m. Carolyn was born Oct. 13, 1942, in Florence, Ala. The Florence, Ala. native was the daughter of the late Ray T. and Ruth Davis Holt.
Carolyn Guthrie was many wonderful things. A role model as a Christian wife, mother and grandmother, she was a member of the Lehman Avenue Church of Christ and was unwavering in her faith. A devoted wife, she inspired many others with her eternal love for her husband. A perfect mother, she was strict, but had immeasurable love for her four sons. A loving grandmother, she sang Disney songs to her grandchildren, who called her “Bopidy.” There was never an activity in which her children and grandchildren participated that Carolyn was not there, until her health kept her away.
Carolyn had unbelievable energy and talents. She was meticulous about her landscaping and flower gardens. At two different houses, she built the backyard fences, because the contractors were not being as precise as she wanted. She was everything from scouting den mother, classroom mother, and taxi driver for sports teams. She had every tool for any kind of craft and could work magic with them. She learned many varied crafts including needlepoint, ceramics, crochet, pallet knife painting, making soft face Cabbage Patch dolls, porcelain dolls, cross stitching, folk art, sewing, and French Hand Sewing. Her passion other than church and family was college basketball. She loved the WKU Hilltopper Men’s and Women’s teams, following them to many tournaments around the country.
When she married Lowell she gained four brothers and a sister to add to her brother Leon Holt. She led many family vacations, including the extended family. After Lowell’s father passed, his mother would visit with Carolyn every afternoon until she passed. As the family moved from one city to another, Carolyn was able to make dear friends quickly and hold on to them for life.
She loved God, her family, and community. She will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Lowell M. Guthrie, Bowling Green, Ky.; four sons, Greg Guthrie, Atlanta, Ga., Brett Guthrie, wife Beth, Chris Guthrie, wife Nicole, and Kent Guthrie, wife Kathy, all of Bowling Green, Ky.; one brother, Leon Holt, wife Bobbi; four brothers-in-law, Jimmy Guthrie, wife Mary, Winston Guthrie, Marshall Guthrie, wife Mollie, and George McFall, wife Trudy; and eight grandchildren, Caroline, Robby, Elizabeth, Ben, Peter, John, Sarah and Michael.
Nieces and nephews include Chuck McFall, Kim Dickerson, Jimmy Guthrie, David Guthrie, Dr. Scott Guthrie, Todd Guthrie, Laura Ashworth, Beth Holt, Rebecca Brown; and 18 great-nieces and nephews. Pallbearers include grandchildren and nephews, Robbie, Ben, Michael, Peter, Scott, Todd, John, Jimmy, David, Chuck McFall, and Michael Ligas.
She was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Anne McFall; and her mother and father-in-law, Robert and Marjorie Guthrie.
Visitation was Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at J. C. Kirby and Son Lovers Lane Chapel and will be today at Lehman Avenue Church of Christ from 11 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m. Burial is at Fairview Cemetery No. 2. Please send flowers to J. C. Kirby and Son Lovers Lane Chapel. Expressions of sympathy may also take the form of donation to a charitable organization of your choice, or College Heights Foundation 1906 College Heights Blvd., No. 41016, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Arrangements have been entrusted to J. C. Kirby and Son Funeral Chapels, Inc.
