Gordon Ellis Guffey passed away peacefully in Butte, MT on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, with his loving daughter, Shannon, by his side, after receiving visits from many grandkids and great grandkids throughout the day.
The incredibly tough father, husband and grandfather lived three years beyond what was expected, continuing to bring smiles to everyone with his humor. Even his sometimes ornery attitude was endearing. His personality overflowed his short stature. He would simply walk into a room and his entrance made everyone there turn and cheerfully boast his name in greeting. Gordy usually had a quip or two in response.
Born on April 24, 1940, in New Rockford, ND, to Alma and Orville Guffey, Gordy was one of seven children. He enjoyed playing all sports growing up in the small town of Brinsmade, ND. It was necessary for all the kids to participate in sports to fill the rosters. However, he had a specific love of baseball, and went on to play softball as he got older, and mushball as he got even older. That’s quite a game to watch!
Gordy joined the army when he was just over 18 and remembers those years as some of the most fun of his life. He was a veteran of the US army during the Cold War, spending time in Germany. He was proud that he made the Army National Boxing team.
Gordy married Mary Lee Klima on March 2, 1963. They lived in various communities throughout North Dakota while he worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Their daughter, Shannon, was born in Bismarck, ND, and Jody was born in Jamestown, ND. The family relocated to Great Falls, MT, in 1974 where Gordy worked for the Montana Power Company as an operator at Black Eagle Dam.
His home in Great Falls was a place of love and a haven for his nine grandchildren. They enjoyed the days when he would take them outside to pick apples off his trees each year and he also included his grandkids in training his hunting dogs, having them hide the retrieving dummy for his black lab, Jetta, to find. He took pride in having well-trained hunting dogs.
He enjoyed camping, mining for sapphires, riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, and he had a passion for hunting and fishing. In 2007, he took first place in the Fresno Challenge fishing tournament in Havre, with his son-in-law, Pat.
He was also an excellent hunter and has some very nice mounts to show for it. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren hunting and fishing, and donating his time to children’s fishing tournaments.
Gordy and Mary Lee bought a slice of sunshine and became snowbirds for ten winters in Yuma, AZ.
Gordy lived life to its fullest.
Sliding down a moss-filled cement spillway isn’t something you’d see most 68-year-olds do. Then again, most of Gordon Guffey’s decisions were uniquely impressive. That spillway ride may have cost him 3 days in the hospital due to a blood clot, but he was proud he did it and would bring it up with fond laughter. There wasn’t much that could knock him down for long.
He is survived by his two daughters, Shannon (Pat) Patterson of Red Lodge MT, and Jody (Matt) Quinn of Annandale, VA; his nine grandchildren, Jordan (Jerilyn) Patterson, McKayla (Nate) Haack, Danika (Colter) Clark, all of Butte MT, Dylan Patterson (Morgan Roehm) of Bozeman MT, and Jon (Nicole) Quinn, Braeden Quinn, Maddi (Myles) Sperry all of Missoula MT, Kailyn Quinn (Brett Cumming) of Granby CO, and Megan Quinn (Adam Giese) of Butte MT; and his 6 great grandchildren: Ruby, Lyla & Kaius Gordon Haack, Eamonn & Eira Clark, and Owen Quinn.
Survivors also include his sisters, Shirley Vincent of Devils Lake, ND, Sharon (Richard) Halvorson and Sylvia Allen of Austin, TX; sisters-in-law, Darlene (Chuck) Struble, Roberta (Karl) Wilhelm, and Linda (Gary) Kraft; and several nieces and nephews.
Gordy is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lee; parents, Alma and Orville Guffey; sister, Janice Onerheim; and brothers, Jerry and Terry Guffey.
Gordy will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, January 12, 2024, at the Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery in the Committal Shelter at Fort Harrison in Helena, MT. A reception will follow at the Fort Harrison Service Club, 4353 Frederick Dr., Fort Harrison (Helena), MT 59636.
Donations can be made to The ALS Association in memory of his beloved Mary Lee.
Please visit axelsonfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence or share a memory of Gordy.
