Bruce Guthrie Obituary

Bruce Albert Guthrie, 83, a Cleveland, TN native, passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2025, in a Memphis-area hospital. He was dearly loved by many and will be missed tremendously.

He loved to joke and tease. He leaves behind to retell his antics and cherish his memory, his wife, Saundra Guthrie, and his 3 children, Janiece Milner (husband Chuck) in Murfreesboro, TN, Steve Guthrie (wife Jennifer) near Brussels, Belgium, and Melissa Farmer (husband James) in Memphis, TN. He was a loving, patient father to willful, aggressive, annoying, opinionated, and determined daughters, and Steve.

He also leaves his grandchildren, Lisa Ruiz, Shannon Milner, Hollie Jasso (Xavier), William Farmer, Wesley Farmer (Maria), Anna Seminuk, Thomas Farmer (Halle), Andrew Farmer (Gabrialle Bruce), Tyler Milner, and Caleb Milner.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Toney A. and Mary (Cavener) Guthrie, as well as all of his siblings, Netta Dellavinia Guthrie, Ruth Inez Guthrie, Madison Eugene Guthrie, Phyllis Albadine Guthrie, Mary Neille Guthrie, Carter Poe Guthrie, William Fay Guthrie, Samuel Andrew Guthrie, Franklin Delano Guthrie, and Leon Cavener Guthrie.

Bruce served in the Air Force in the early 1960s. With the skills he learned in the military, he began his education so he could work as a machinist/maintenance professional at M&M Mars in Cleveland, TN for 25+ years before he retired. He also loved to work on Gravely tractors (earning him the name Mr. Gravely) and invented a special conversion kit for a Honda motor. His love for woodworking began in high school when he made a headboard for his bed which he used his entire life. Later, he built a pulpit for his daughter’s church.

He was a fixer. Whatever problem you had, he would find a solution. Whether you were family or a stranger, he would help you. He was a kind, gentle soul, and very generous with a giving nature... and a touch of stubborn. He was a light to others reminding them to take it one day at a time, and to not sweat the small stuff. He had the grace to love us even with our many differing views of life. He loved us as we are... not as who he thought we should be. That is what true love is all about.

He loved God with all his heart. He was a member of Cleveland Christian Fellowship in Cleveland, TN, for 35 years before he relocated to the Memphis, TN area last year and joined his daughter and son-in-law’s church, The Lord’s Church in Bartlett.

The Celebration of Life Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at The Lord’s Church, 7525 Bartlett-Corporate Drive, Bartlett, TN.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either of the following: The Lord’s Church (https://thelordschurchmemphis.com) or Forever Young Veterans (https://foreveryoungvets.org)