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Guthrie -- Lee Guthrie, 71, a long-time resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away on September 1, 2001. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee, Sr. and Hazel; and brother, Lehrie, of Leon, Kansas. He is survived by his wonderful wife of 23 years, Charlene; his four children, Jay and wife, Mona, of Albuquerque, Jan of Wichita, KS, Michel and husband, Peter, of Torrance, CA, and Scott and wife, Kelly, of Las Cruces; five grandchildren, Laura, Josh, Zach, Iric and Alec; and his brother Lynn and wife, Mavis, and family of Orlando, FL. Also surviving are his mother-in-law, Dorothy O'Dell; and brother-in-law, Harold O'Dell and wife, Stephanie, all of Alamogordo. Lee was born in 1930 in Wichita, KS. After graduating from Augusta High School in 1948, he served five years, one month and 19 days in the United States Air Force. After being honorably discharged, he attended El Dorado Junior College and then graduated from Wichita State University. Upon graduation, he began a long and illustrious banking career. With his family in tow, he spent the next 20+ years criss-crossing the western United States with new career opportunities. Lee served as a National Bank Examiner in Oklahoma, assisted and chartered the Humbolt National Bank in Eureka, CA and served as President of Deming National Bank, First National Bank of Clovis, Republic Bank of Albuquerque, and First National Bank of Socorro. He was a charter member of the Deming Lions Club and a member of Jornada Masonic Lodge #70, AF&AM. Lee was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He was also a member and past director of the Rio Grande Rotary Club of Las Cruces. He served as President of the Socorro Chamber of Commerce and New Mexico Retail Association and served as Chairman of the Las Cruces Board of the Salvation Army. Lee took an active part in his community and also in his church, University United Methodist. In 1990, he became Albuquerque's Presbyterian Hospital's 56th heart transplant recipient. The transplant gave him nearly 11 extra years to get to know his grandchildren, play golf, travel, and continue his wonderful life with Charlene. He will be remembered lovingly by friends and family as a man with a great sense of humor, his love for New Mexico and the Southwest, his dedication and loyalty to his wife and children and his positive outlook on life. In his own words,"I am an enchanted New Mexican by desire." He will be deeply missed. Visitation will be held at Getz Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 4, 2001, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 5, 2001 at University United Methodist Church. Internment will follow in Alamogordo at Monte Vista Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Officiating will be Reverend Gary Seelau. The family requests donations be made to the Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 East Montana Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88001, (523-4700) or the New Mexico Donor Program. Local arrangements by Getz Funeral Home (corner of Solano and Bowman, 526-2419) and Hamilton-O'Dell Funeral Home in Alamogordo.
        Published on: Wed September 05, 2001