Teddy (Ted) Kirkpatrick Guthrie, Jr., died peacefully on November 27, 2024, at his home in Clear Lake Shores, Texas, at the age of 96.  He was born to Opal Meyer and Teddy Kirkpatrick Guthrie, Sr., on September 19, 1928, in Sweetwater, Texas. The family soon moved to Houston where he attended grade school at Trinity Lutheran and graduated from Sam Houston High School.  He worked for Houston Lighting and Power for a short time before he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1946 and served two years in Ogden, UT.  Upon completion of his military service in 1948, he returned to Houston and began working as a draftsman for Tennessee Gas Transmission Company.

He met the love of his life, Betty Lee Miller, on a blind date in 1950, and they were married on June 16, 1951.  In 1953, they moved to Clear Lake Shores, Texas, residing on the same block as Betty’s parents, and began their family.  He was very involved in the Clear Lake Shores community, as a member of the volunteer fire department pumper team, serving as a city councilman from 1968-1974, and two terms as mayor, from 1993-1995 and 2001-2003. Ted was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed gardening, fishing, duck hunting, camping with the family and land surveying.  In 1972, he “retired” from Tennessee Gas/Tenneco to start a land surveying company with his fellow ex-Tennessee Gas employee and surveyor friend, Thomas Lyons, forming Guthrie-Lyons & Associates. Although he sold his business and again “retired” in 2004, Ted continued surveying until the age of 90.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Betty Lee, sister Annagene Archer, and youngest daughter, Christina Walker.  He is survived by three children, Elizabeth Wells and husband Pruett, Melissa McCormick, and Thomas Guthrie and wife Julie, 11 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the hospice caregivers for their wonderful care, compassion, kindness, and support: Marvena Wolf of Loving Care; Debbie McNair, Nadia Medina, Bria Floyd, Femi Johnson, Carolyn Gipson, and Chaplain Daniel Miller of Choice Hospice.

A visitation will be held at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main Street, League City, on Thursday, December 5^th, from 6:00-8:00 pm.  A funeral ceremony will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, 9111 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City, Texas on Friday, December 6^th, at 10:00 am, Pastor Matthew Brackman, celebrant.  The graveside committal service will begin at 12:00 pm at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 7801 Gulf Freeway, Dickinson, Texas, Chaplain Daniel Miller officiant.  Following the burial, a reception will be held at Peace Lutheran Church.

Serving as pallbearers are Pruett Wells, Matthew McCormick, Mark McCormick, Daniel Guthrie, Stephen Wells, Michael Walker, Gabriel Walker, and John Walker.

Memorials may be sent to the Peace Lutheran Church, 9111 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City, Texas, 77591 https://peacetexascity.org/donations .  Condolences may be sent to Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main Street, League City, Texas, 77573.