John Ginard Guthrie, Sr.
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John Girard Guthrie, age 96, passed away Friday, February 4, 2022, at his residence surrounded by his family.
Mr. Guthrie was born in Deerfield, Florida on September 6, 1925. He grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana where he was an All-State football guard at West Lafayette High School. He was a trained fighter pilot and World War II Veteran of what is now the United States Air Force. Mr. Guthrie attended Purdue University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and completed a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1948. At Purdue, he met the love of his life, Randalin Tuesburg and they were married in February 1949.
Mr. Guthrie's first job upon graduation was with the Illinois Central Railroad as a forestry agent to help reforest the south. He and his wife moved to Hattiesburg, MS and brought Purdue's prototype mechanical tree planter. Mr. Guthrie helped perfect the tree planter into what became known as the Illinois Central Tree Planter. He was nicknamed "Johnny Pinetree" as a result of his promotion of forestry and tree planting. Mr. Guthrie went on to work for Dantzler Lumber Company, moved to Wiggins in 1951, and opened what is now John G. Guthrie and Sons in1954. Mr. Guthrie was an advocate for the forestry profession and was issued Registered Forester License No. 1 in Mississippi. He served as the first chairman for the Mississippi Board of Registration for Foresters. He also served on the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board and was a licensed real estate broker. He was a member of the Society of American Foresters for 73 years, a charter member of the Mississippi Association of Consulting Foresters, a past president of the Mississippi Forestry Association, and served on the board for Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
Mr. Guthrie was very active in the First United Methodist Church of Wiggins where he had 67 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School and was a member of the choir for about 60 years. He also served as a Sunday School teacher, Trustee, and was involved in many other activities.
Mr. Guthrie was a 72 year member and Past Master of J.L. Power Masonic Lodge No. 416 F. & A.M. in Perkinston, MS. He was a long-time member of Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, Miriam Chapter No. 67 Order of the Eastern Star (Past Patron), Gideons International, and Neighborhood Watchdogs (Wiggins, MS).
Mr. Guthrie was active in Boy Scouts where he received the Silver Beaver, Pine Burr, and Good Scout awards. He served as a Scout Master and was on the Pine Burr Area Council Camp Committee locating Camp Tiak in Fruitland Park. He also was on the Girl Scout Camp Committee to locate and purchase the Gulf Pine Council Camp Iti Kana.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Randalin T. Guthrie, his parents, Horatio Nelson Guthrie and Clara Girard Guthrie; two brothers, Alfred C. Guthrie and H. Nelson Guthrie, Jr; and two sisters Helen Eilar and Marjorie Lewis.
Mr. Guthrie is survived by his four children, daughter, Suzanne; three sons, John G., Jr. (Sonja), James D. (Sherrye), and Randal L. (Connie); 10 grandchildren, David (Jennifer), Anny (Jacob Dykes), Christopher, Joseph (Kharri), Samantha (John Thames), Katie (Jason Leist), Rand (Ashley), Calista (Austin Mills), Sarah, and John G., III; 20 great-grandchildren with two more on the way and a host of friends.
On Friday, February 11 a visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center Wiggins, MS from 5-7 p.m. Arrangements are scheduled for Saturday, February 12 at First United Methodist Church of Wiggins with visitation at 9 a.m. followed by a service at 10 a.m. Burial and Masonic Service to follow at Wiggins Cemetery. The service will be broadcast on the church's YouTube Channel and Facebook group. Memorials are suggested to be given to Gideons International, First United Methodist Church of Wiggins, John G. Guthrie Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Bank of Wiggins, or your favorite charity.