Charles E. Charlie Guthrey

Charles E. Guthrey passed away peacefully, Friday, March 1, 2019. His loving wife of 67 years, Hazel, was with him. He died due to various complications after lengthy surgery in January from which he never fully recovered. Born on May 14, 1924, he was the son of Charles and Annie Guthrey. He grew up in McMinn County, Tennessee. He lost eyesight in one eye due to an unfortunate accident at age 10. He lost his father to double pneumonia at age 11. He worked very hard as a child and teenager at times scrubbing old brick with sulfuric acid and a wire brush earning 10 cents per hundred brick. He developed an early interest in construction being around his maternal grandfather, Grandpappy Webb and his uncles; all of whom were in the construction business. He put himself through college at Tennessee Tech in 34 months and played football for Tennessee Tech. He was the president of the Baptist Student Union at Tennessee Tech. He began his professional career working for Ely Webb. After marrying Hazel Axley in August of 1951, their son Charles Michael Guthrey was born August 3rd, 1952, and daughter, Karen, came along on April 3, 1954. They moved to Knoxville, in 1957. While working at Cooper & Perry, Architects, he met George Galloway with whom he formed a partnership, Galloway & Guthrey, Architects-Engineers in 1959. He and George won many professional awards. They worked on many buildings in East Tennessee and especially enjoyed working with churches to glorify the Lord through their tireless efforts on behalf of many congregations. He exhibited great character, resolve and self¬ discipline through the ups and downs of his professional life. He enjoyed University of Tennessee athletics. He served as Sunday School director and Church Training Director at Central Baptist, Bearden, and served as a deacon for many decades. He was instrumental in the expansion of their facility. After 'retiring' from his company at age 62, he and Hazel traveled to many locations around the United States and Canada doing Volunteer church construction where he frequently served as architect, engineer, general contractor, and on-site project manager at no charge. He was involved in every aspect of the construction process from completing the original design and blue prints to the last coat of paint. His challenge to his Volunteers on difficult construction tasks: "You can do it!" He and Hazel took their motor home and would stay for weeks or months at a building site aided by various volunteer groups who would come from around the country to help churches establish a building where the congregation could worship in their own facility. Perhaps the most difficult project he ever worked on was the restoration and expansion of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Univ. of TN, Knoxville. With creativity and enthusiasm, he solved numerous engineering puzzles and challenges with codes, lack of space, and an aging structure. Charlie was preceded in death by his grandson, David Shankles; brother, Delbert (Melonee). He is survived by his wife, Hazel; son, Mike (Joan); daughter, Karen Shankles (Roland); grandchildren, Laura G. Axelson (Derek) and Lisa Hardwick (Noah), Charlie (Megan), Stephen (Katie), Andrew, Peter, Molly S. Bullington (Craig); and Jonathan Shankles; great-grandchildren, William ("Liam") Smithson, and Soren Axelson, Lorelei Hardwick, Annie, Rosie, and Silvia Shankles and Emmit Metcalf; nieces, Lucy Ann Miller (Bob) and Debbie Thompson (Ronnie); and nephew, Bobby Guthrey (Jerrie). Charlie's energy, enthusiasm, sense of humor, and positive outlook will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. His favorite "life verse" was 1 Corinthians 10:31: "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.", which he strove to follow. Family will welcome friends on Saturday, March 9, 2019 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel with a celebration of life service to follow. Afterwards the interment will take place at Cedar Sprinqs Cemetery, Hanks Rd., Athens, TN. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Cedar Springs Cemetery Fund, c/o BB&T Bank, 1604 Decatur Pike, Athens, TN 37303. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com

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Charles E. Charlie Guthrey

May 14, 1924 - March 1, 2019