Obituaries
Death of Michael Dean “Mike” Guthrie
Michael Dean “Mike” Guthrie, 77 of Carlinville, passed away Friday evening, November 25, 2022, at St. John’s Hospital Emergency Room in Springfield. Michael was born on October 23, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio, a son of John W. and Reble (Boyd) Guthrie.
He married Mary Finley on June 24, 1967, in Sparta, Illinois.
Michael Guthrie was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Reble Guthrie, and his brother, Mark Guthrie.
Michael Guthrie was always proud to call Carlinville home and was a graduate of Carlinville High School, Class of 1963. He attended SIU for two years before pursuing a career in insurance which led to 56+ years of success in business with Guthrie Insurance, a firm founded by his father.
Michael was more than a lifelong Carlinville resident. He’s been a pillar in the community supporting various organizations, fundraisers, and charitable causes throughout his personal and professional life. He was an avid golfer, having teed up in all 50 states and in Mexico, Canada, and Scotland. He’s also quite possibly the most loyal St. Louis Cardinals fan, meticulous about his Corvette, and fiercely devoted to his family.
He enjoyed traveling throughout his life and, in retirement, spent much of his winters golfing in sunny Fort Myers, Florida, with his wife. At home, he enjoyed tinkering outdoors in his shop, supporting the Carlinville Country Club next door, and even in retirement, would spend his mornings in the office. He may have been “Uncle Mike” to his sprawling family, now into its second generation of nieces and nephews, but he’s always been the Father and Grandfather figure. And those who were blessed to know him as a friend know how devoted he was to those friendships.
Michael Guthrie will always be remembered as the spirited, loving Brother, Uncle, Friend, and Husband with a golf club in hand and a heart of gold.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Carlinville United Methodist Church. Funeral services were conducted at 10:00 am, Thursday, December 1, 2022 at the church with Rev. Cliff Woodman officiating. Burial followed at Mayfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Carlinville.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Guthrie; sister, Cathy Whitler of Carlinville; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Karsten (of Steeleville, IL), Martha Gerlach (of Steeleville, IL), Virginia Deere (of Sparta, IL), and Deborah Thompson (of Longmont, CO); along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Foundation or Carlinville Elks Lodge. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.
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Lois Ilaine Erspamer Sawyer, 94 of Gillespie, died at her residence on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 9:51 am. She was born on February 9, 1930, in Gillespie to Louis Poi and Bertha Annetta Sunman Poi Lewis.
She married John Peter Erspamer on September 4, 1950. He preceded her in death on November 24, 1989. She married Dempsey Sawyer on May 15, 1993, and he preceded her in death in 2016. She had been a bookkeeper for Duracraft and Daley’s Chevrolet. Lois enjoyed reading, gardening, painting, drawing, cooking, traveling, bird watching, adventures, her family and her beloved cat, Molly.
She is survived by her children, Ann (Timm) LaRoche of Gillespie, Joan (Paul) Alexander of Gillespie, and Lynn Erspamer of Litchfield; grandchildren, Shannon (David) Wright of Gillespie, Suzanne (companion, Josh) DeMartini of Madisonville, KY, Jared (Amanda) Johnson of Staunton, Adam (Ashli) Alexander of Gillespie, Travis (Laura) Mize of Dallas, TX, Britini Bernardini of Nokomis, and Marissa (Jacob) Summers of Litchfield; great grandchildren, Macie, Isabel and Alexander Wright, Joseph and Gino DeMartini, Brianna Johnson, Ansley Alexander, Lucas and Jeffrey Bernardini, Fisher, Sabrina and Gabriella Crow; great great grandchild, Dominic Joseph “DJ” DeMartini; sisters, Patricia Thompson of Carmel, IN, Phyllis Dodd of Pooler, GA, and Marion Boston of Springfield; and brothers, Ernie Lewis of Carbondale and Fred Lewis of Ft Meyers, FL.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, spouses, and brother, John Lewis.
Private services will be held. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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