Danny Guffey of Heber Springs formerly of Newport, departed this life at home on Sunday June 12, 2022 at the age of 74. He was born on October 15, 1947, in Newport, the youngest of five children of Woodrow Wilson Guffey and Mabel Hammond Guffey.
He graduated in 1965 from Grubbs High School, where he was a proud Bluejay. After graduation, Danny joined the US Army. He served in Vietnam, specializing in Army Ordnance. Danny was recognized for his expert marksmanship and received the Vietnam Service Medal with five Bronze Stars. He also received the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Danny was a member of the Collier-Massey Post 4683 VFW and the Neil-Griffin American Legion Post 47.
In 1970, he began working as a lineman for Farmers Electric Cooperative, retiring in 1996 as a construction superintendent. Never a stranger to hard work, his retirement idea was to work as a farm manager for the next 11 years for Sonny and Darrin Hutchinson at Hutchinson Farms.
He was a Christian. He was saved and baptized at Immanuel Baptist Church in Newport, where he was a member until he moved to Heber Springs, where he became a member of Southside Baptist Church.
He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, especially pigeons, deer, and squirrels. He also enjoyed fishing and a good fishing spot was one of his favorite places to be. Danny loved raising hunting dogs and letting them run deer during deer season. He loved spending time with young children teaching them how to hunt and fish and dress their prey.
Danny was always busy, tending cows, horses, and goats, tending to the garden, and doing yard work to keep everything in the home he loved in good shape. Danny loved going to wagon races and horse shows. He found great joy in sharing his garden with neighbors and friends.
His greatest love was his family. She especially loved the time she spent with them at the lake, camping and cooking together. Danny and Lydia loved and were very proud of their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He will always be remembered for his tremendous work ethic, his love of the outdoors, and his great love for his family and many friends.
Danny was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Levelle Guffey.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Lydia (Doyle) Guffey, of the household; two daughters, Danna Sue Barkley and husband, Barry, of Jonesboro, Jill Elizabeth Gibson and husband, Rob, of Jonesboro; three stepchildren, Chad Harris of Newport, Josh Harris and his partner, Terri Riley of Newport and Zach Harris of Jonesboro; and six grandchildren, who affectionately called him “Dad,” Drew Guffey, Luke Barkley, Ryder Gibson, Aubrey Shipman, Harper Harris, and Hayes Harris. Additionally, a brother survives, Gerald Wayne Guffey of Pitts; two sisters, Bobbie Dean Meiner and Carolyn Sue Grady, both from Hazen; two brothers-in-law, Mickey Doyle and wife, Tinker, and Gil Doyle; a sister-in-law, Fonda Doyle; seven nephews, Randy Guffey and wife, Delana, Kenny Guffey and wife, Rhonda, and Keith Guffey and partner, Renee Kieffer, Justin Doyle and wife, Megan, Nick Doyle and wife, Jordan, Kolby Burton and fiancee, Ana Williams, and Hunter doyle; three nieces, Suanne Hazelwood, Kim Smith and Kori Cloud and her husband, Rodney; and three great-nieces whom he loved like grandchildren, who knew and loved him as “Daddy”, Matti Stevens, Sophie Staggs and Raeleigh Cloud.
The honorary pallbearers are Gene Sweatt, Darrin Hutchinson, Glenn Hill, Birdell Alumbaugh, Skeeter Grady, Barney McCoy, Tommy Gower and Darrell Massey.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Hannah and Renee with Arkansas Hospice, Chaplain Ron, Kindred Home Health, and Dusty Watkins for their dedicated care of Danny.
Visitation will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at Southside Baptist Church and will be followed by the 11:00 am service officiated by Pastor Elwin Ollar.
