Manchester, Vt – Shirley May Guthridge, a longtime resident of Manchester, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday morning March 27, 2019 at the age of 84. The daughter of Robert and Dorothy (Bushee) Squires, she was born in Manchester on February 14, 1935 . She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Manchester. Shirley grew up in Manchester, attending locals schools and graduating from Burr & Burton Seminary in 1953. In the 1970s, she furthered her education at the former St. Joseph’s Business College in Bennington, and at the age of 60 entered and graduated from the Putnam Hospital School of Nursing with her degree as an L.P.N. She then provided care for many patients in local nursing facilities as well as private duty nursing.
In earlier years Shirley was active with the Arlington PTA, Arlington Garden Club, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She also sold real estate for years, at first in Colorado for Century 21 and later in Arlington for Mary DeBrun. In later years, Shirley moved to Nova Scotia with her second husband, Robert Guthridge, where they operated a group home for delinquent boys and later established a bed and breakfast called “The Millstones”.
After Robert’s death in 1989, Shirley moved back to Manchester, where she enjoyed the company of her family. For many years, she thoroughly enjoyed volunteering as a “Gray Lady” at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. She also liked to crochet, and was especially fond of Bingo games, a passion she shared with her mother Dorothy and her sister Kate. Oh, the stories that were told of waiting in vain for the last number of a big jackpot.
Shirley was a devoted sports fan who loved watching sports on TV and attending games played by the younger family members. She especially liked soccer and football, and was avidly watching the NCAA basketball games this past week. She loved and doted on her animals, and will be greatly missed by her current canine companion “Benee”.
Shirley leaves behind her sister Katherine “Kate” Griffis of Manchester, sons John (Cheryl) Hess of East Arlington, George (Lisa) Hess Jr. of Manchester and Jerry (Raul) Hess-Serrano of San Antonio, Texas, daughter Linda (John) O’Brien of Pittsfield, MA, step son Jay (Dianna) Guthridge of New Hampshire, grandchildren Adam Hess, Amanda Stevens, Ashley and Haylee Hess, Zachary and Noelle Cole, step grandchildren Allie Jay and Jeannine Guthridge, and Daniel Hughes, five great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband Robert Guthridge in1989, and her former husband George Hess Sr. in 1998. Her younger brother Robert (Bobby) Squires died in 1945.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Northshire Rescue Squad in care of Brewster-Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 885, Manchester Center, VT 05255.
Funeral Information
Funeral services were held on Thursday April 4 at 5pm at Brewster-Shea Funeral Home. Private burial will take place at a later date in the Factory Point Cemetery. Friends called at the funeral home on Thursday from 3-5pm when the family will be present. Condolences may be sent to: https://sheafuneralhomes.com