A. Ray Guthrie
July 6, 2024
Albert Ray Guthrie, 93, of Inverness, FL, died peacefully on Saturday, July 6, 2024, under the loving care of his family and hospice. Ray was born in August 1930 in Bartow, Florida, the son of the late Leonard and Lillie Mae (Scott) Guthrie. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 1948 and was in the 5th Cavalry Division in the Korean War. After serving his country, Ray was honorably discharged and returned to Bartow, Florida where he married Lelia Joan Davis in 1953. Ray was the devoted and loving father to three daughters, Suzanne Ward (John), Terrie Alderman (Mike), and Kim Blocker (Kenny), grandfather to five grandchildren, Katie Smith (Will), Jessica Michel (Jeff), Amber Alderman, Kyle Blocker (Courtney), Cameron Blocker (Violet) and five great-grandchildren, Caroline, Alex, Evan, Kali and Kade. Ray was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 70 years, Joan Davis Guthrie, his brothers Earl Guthrie, Clyde Guthrie and his sister, Lillian Floyd.
Ray began his career in Polk County Florida in the phosphate mining industry starting as a time keeper and working his way up to various management positions, running phosphate mines in Florida and Georgia. Ray then started his own consulting business, including engineering, environmental permitting, project management, mining and land reclamation, working in Florida as well as international projects in Russia and Cuba. Ray completed his career as a licensed real estate broker. During his lifetime he resided in Bartow, Florida, Lakeland, Florida, Pooler, Georgia, and Lake City, Florida, he moved to Homosassa Springs, Florida in 1979 and later to Inverness, Florida.
While his professional career and providing for his family was an important aspect of Ray’s life, his family was always the most important. Ray enjoyed spending time fishing, boating and scalloping with his wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Homosassa River and cooking the best fried fish at his family fish fries. Ray passed his love of fishing and boating on to his grandchildren and was their beloved “Poopa”. Ray and Joan also enjoyed spending time with their family and traveling with their grandchildren to the Bahamas and Florida Keys. He also enjoyed attending and sponsoring many sporting events, recitals and concerts for his grandchildren. Ray grew abundant vegetable gardens and loved to play the slots at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa and play the Florida Lottery scratch off tickets. Ray was awarded The Liberty Mutual Life Saver Medal in 1960. Ray will be fondly remembered for his generosity in providing many Christmases for families in need and by his family and others for bestowing his sound “Words of Wisdom”.
A Celebration of Life and committal service at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell will be held at a later date. The Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory of Inverness is assisting the family with Cremation with Care Arrangements.
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