Guthrie, Laura Elizabeth Bashford (1908-2003)

GUTHRIE, BASHFORD, WATT, VAN GERPEN, DENGER, LUNDBERG, GRAVES, GONSETH, RAVEN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/3/2022 at 16:22:57

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
Monday, July 14, 2003

Laura Elizabeth Guthrie, 94, died Thursday, July 10, 2003. She was born August 16, 1908 in Dows, Iowa, the daughter of William Thomas Bashford and Maggie Watt Bashford. She graduated from Webster City High School in 1926. She was married to William J. Guthrie on July 28, 1928.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1964; six brothers-James Bashford, Joseph (Mack) Bashford, William T. Bashford, Eugene Bashford, LaVerne Bashford, Francis Bashford and a great-grandson, Chase Michael Van Gerpen.

Survivors include a daughter, Darlene M. Denger, Kearney, MO; three granddaughters; Angela Su Lundberg, Liberty, MO, Lora K. Graves, Webster City, IA, Nancy Ann Gonseth, Brandon, SD, and one grandson, William Van Gerpen, Kearney, MO; eight great-grandchildren; one great great grandson; and a sister, Naomi Raven, Grand Rapids, MI.

Laura was a leading lady for the Tilton-Guthrie Players and Guthrie Players Repertoire Theatre groups from 1928 until the tent show had to close in the fall of 1942, as a result of gas rationing during WWII. She and her husband retired from the stage and purchased the theater in Dows, IA, where they resided until 1955 when they closed the theater and purchased a ladies' ready to wear store in Belmond, IA. In 1966, Laura sold the shop and moved to Webster City, IA, where she resided until 1984 when she moved to an apartment in Kearney, MO. to be close to her daughter.

She was a member of Dows, Iowa, Chapter Order of Eastern Star, and held the position of Grand Warder, State of Iowa, in 1954. In 1967 she came out of retirement for one summer to troupe with the Neil Schaffner Players in eastern Missouri. She was a member of the Northview Christian Church in Kearney, Mo. She was quick witted, a talented actress, an accomplished seamstress and loved to dance.

Cremation services were held at a later date. Church Archer Pasley Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.