Elizabeth (Betty Anne) Harris Guthrie, born Jan. 1, 1925, in Bessemer, Ala., died peacefully at home in Annapolis, Md., surrounded by all her daughters and loving caregivers on Aug. 2, 2023. She was 98 years old. The eldest of five siblings, she grew up in Old Hickory, Tenn., attended Stephens College in Missouri, and worked for the U.S. Army Map Service during World War II. She moved to San Francisco where she met the love of her life, Hugh D. Guthrie. Betty Anne was devoted to her children and family, her church and community wherever she lived. The family lived in Mill Valley, Calif.; Alton, Ill.; Southport, Conn.; Houston, Texas; Alexandria, Va.; Menlo Park and Newport Beach, Calif.; Tulsa, Okla.; and Morgantown. She lived near her daughter Elizabeth in Annapolis, Md., for the last nine years of her life.
Her faith in God and service to the Episcopal Church were the heartbeat of her life. She served as a church leader in many capacities, while always being an Altar Guild member and active in the Order of the Daughters of the King. She volunteered with many organizations, including Head Start and Meals on Wheels until her late 80’s. She was always ready to help those in need.
She treasured family, both immediate and extended. She was Mother to five daughters, Katherine Guthrie (John Ward) of Eagan, Minn., Gretchen Small (Dennis) of Leesburg, Va., Melissa Olson (JohnO) of Glenside, Pa., Elizabeth Kinney (Douglas) of Annapolis, Md., and Emily Guthrie (Michael Lindner) of Falls Church, Va.; Grandmommy Betty to Erin, AJ, Caitlin, Darcy, Greg, John Hugh, Megan, Noah and Jamie; and YaYa to her great-grandchildren Hadley, Hannah, Ariane, River, Arthur, Bodhi and Ernie. Family and friends appreciated her warm and witty conversations, her generosity of spirit, her extraordinary vocabulary, the laughter in her presence and her fierce sense of what is right and just. She loved a challenging crossword puzzle, a good martini and had reverence for all creatures great and small, especially cats.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Hugh; her parents, Katherine and Kenneth Harris; and her siblings Ken, Bill, Jane and Sarah.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401, at 11 a.m. on Sept. 30. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to Trinity Episcopal Church, 247 Willey St, Morgantown, WV 26505.
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