Nona Guthrie

Nona May Guthrie, 94, passed away on Wednesday, June 24th, 2026. Her smile and happiness touched everyone around her. She is healthy and at peace now standing next to her son, Dean and daughter, Toni and the rest of her siblings. Nona was born in Wenatchee, WA to Thomas Flynn and Alvina Kuhlman. She was raised on Badger Mountain. She was the youngest of 5 children. The family soon moved to East Wenatchee, WA. Growing up, Nona worked for Bonanza 88 cent store and the Vitaphone Theater. She got her introduction to the fruit industry early, working up on Wenatchee Heights picking cherries using a 26’ spike ladder and then at the Cascoa Warehouse in Cashmere checking fruit. One of her favorite stories she loved to tell, was when she was dating her future husband, Johnny, and he purposely showed up at the Vitaphone with another girl on his arm. Needless to say, Nona was furious. So, during her work break she went out to Johnny’s car and let the air out of his tires. She showed him! Obviously, that didn’t deter Johnny. The two were destined to be together, marrying on March 10, 1950. John and Nona moved to Cashmere and were blessed with 4 children: Toni, Dean, Brenda and Phil. They soon purchased a fruit orchard in Dryden where they settled and began raising their family. The family did a lot of fishing trips to Campbell River in Canada and the Potholes in Quincy. The couple would host a “Big Perch Fish Fry” for their friends and their families. Nona would often host big family gatherings which always included her famous potato salad and chocolate pie. At Christmas time, she would often make peanut brittle and divinity. Nona was a member of the Cashmere Grange and Cashmere Degree of Honor. Something a lot of people didn’t know is that Nona was an avid sports fan. Watching it on television or going to the games. She was always there in the bleachers cheering on those P-D Cougars. She got really excited when P-D would beat Brewster in any sport especially basketball. She had quite the rivalry going with her brother-in-law, Bud Joy. Nona had a green thumb and loved working in her flower beds especially the roses. After all the children were raised, the couple would often take road trips with their friends to Jackpot and Reno. During a trip with Ginger and Gary Graves, they stopped at a bar in Reno. Unbeknownst to them they were sitting next to country singer, Merle Haggard. Nona and Ginger were like two school girls with a big crush on the high school jock. He bought them a drink and they had the time of their life talking with him. Camping was another thing Nona loved to do. Her and Johnny bought a 32’ motorhome and the road was their playground…usually next to a good fishing hole. Nona was preceded in death by her son, Dean Guthrie and her daughter, Toni Shaw along with all her siblings. She is survived by her husband John, their daughter Brenda Dahl, and their son Phil Guthrie (Korene), 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. In Lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Dryden Fire Department or Dryden Improvement Club PO Box 296 Monitor WA 98836. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley of East Wenatchee.

Nona Guthrie

December 14, 1939 - June 24, 2026