Laura Elizabeth (Bashford) GUTHRIE

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

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/7/2006 at 17:43:43

Kearney, MO -- Laura Elizabeth Guthrie died July 10, 2003. She was born August 16, 1908 in Dows, IA to William Thomas and Maggie Watt Bashford. She graduated from Webster City High School in 1926 and married William J. Guthrie on July 28, 1928. Laura was the leading lady for the Tilton-Guthrie Players and Guthrie Players Repetoire Theatre groups from 1928 until the tent show had to close in the fall of 1942, as a result of gas rationing during WW II. 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, where she resided until 1984 when she moved to an apartment in Kearney, MO, to be closer to her daughter. She was a member of Dows 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 MO. She was a member of the Northview Christian Church in Kearney, MO. She was quick witted and was a talented actress, an accomplished seamstress and loved to dance.

She is survived by her daughter, Darlene M. Denger of Kearney, MO three granddaughters, Angela Su Lundberg of Liberty, MO, Lora K. Graves of Webster City, IA and Nancy Ann Gonseth of Brandon, SD one grandson, William Van Gerpen of Kearney, MO eight great-grandchildren one great-great-grandson and a sister, Naomi Raven of Grand Rapids, MI. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1964 six brothers, James , Joseph (Mack), William T., Eugene, LaVerne and Francis Bashford and one great-grandson, Chase Michael Van Gerpen.

Des Moines Register, The (IA)
July 13, 2003