Peggy S. Rutledge Guffey, 71, of Elizabethton, peacefully went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, July 17, 2016, from her residence. Born and raised in Bluff City, she had lived most of her life in Elizabethton. She was the daughter of the late Gilbert P. and Carrie Oliver Rutledge. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Diane Guffey, in 1986; her husband of 39 years, Dean H. Guffey, in 2004; a brother, Don Rutledge, in 2012; and a sister, Carol Campbell, in 2013.
Peggy was a graduate of Bluff City High School, Bristol Commercial College and Draughan’s Junior College, where she graduated with a 4.0 graduate average. After raising two children, she went back to school to get a degree in Executive Secretarial. Then she became the secretary/office manager for Johnson City’s branch of Shenandoah Life Insurance Company. After her husband changed careers from Chemical Engineer to being a teacher, she sought and found employment as a teacher’s assistant, so she would be off during the summer months. She retired from Elizabethton City School System as a teacher’s assistant at East Side Elementary School, after her husband’s death.
Peggy was a member of Grace Baptist Church, where she was very active as long as her health allowed. She was a member of WMU. She worked in the Bed Babies and with the Team Kid’s Ministry at Lynnwood/Lynn Ridge Apartments.
Those left to cherish her memory include a son, David Guffey and wife Renita of Johnson City; three sisters and their husbands, Jennelle and Clayton Gross of Bristol, Evelyn and Ed Fields of Bristol, and Annette and Mike Chase of Arkansas; one brother, Chris and wife Bobbie of Blountville; and one sister-in-law, Kay Rutledge of Bluff City. Several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins, along with her special friends, Pat, Steve, Laura Presnell and Wayne and Loretta Peeks, also survive.
A graveside service to honor the life of Peggy S. Rutledge Guffey will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, at Happy Valley Memorial Park with Rev. Travis Tyler officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Peeks, Harold Smith, Steve Presnell, Don Ross, Steve Vannoy and David Ferguson. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Guffey family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.