Ty Guthrie, cherished husband, brother, son, uncle, and indispensable friend passed away peacefully at his home in Longmont Colorado, surrounded by love, late Sunday night - April 21, 2019 - after a long battle with synovial sarcoma. He made his mark on all our lives with his generosity, wit, love, and kindness and has left a hole in our hearts with his absence.
Tyrone Cameron Guthrie was born September 14, 1964 in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada and grew up in Summerland BC. Although Ty lived for the better part of the current century in Colorado he never lost his Canadian accent, humility, or his love for the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. His passions for sailing and swimming, and his deep and abiding love for the outdoors were born in the Okanagan.
After earning a M.Sc in Geography and Landscape Ecology, Ty embarked on a lifelong career in conservation and GIS. His work adventures began while living in Victoria B.C. where he cofounded Latitude Geographics, a web mapping and technology company, and worked for the Islands Trust conserving the unique islands in the Salish Sea. Ty moved to Colorado, in the United States, in 2002 to join The Nature Conservancy where he has worked ever since as a spatial analyst, programmer, and spatial data manager supporting conservation planning efforts and the creation of a spatial data infrastructure around the world.
However, it is the myriad of other titles that we could bestow on Ty that best captures what we all loved so much about him. He was an avid sailor, swimmer, cyclist, and hiker, a master woodworking craftsman, world traveler, noted limerick (and Haiku) writer, painter, photographer, musician, and proud Canadian. Ty was always ready to join adventures over the river and through the woods, into pits of despair, and against rodents of unusual size. He never turned down invites to hike up impossible mountains, drive across the country, bike through rainforests, or suffer through many a B-grade movie. Landlocked in Colorado, no reservoir was too small to be conquered by sail boat; no pool too short to be traversed as long as necessary. No cribbage or backgammon game was too inconsequential to be played, and no surgery too big to stop him from finding a way back to his passions and sharing them with his loved ones. He was both calm waters and a whirling dervish of building, designing, creating, learning, and laughing. He was the bestest of friends.
Most importantly though, Ty was a beloved husband, brother, son, and uncle. In November 2018, Ty married his love, his partner-in-crime and adventure, Mary, at their home in Longmont, Colorado. In her, Ty found the rock and partner all those who loved him had hoped and dreamed for him.
Ty is survived by his wife Mary; father Bill and stepmother Deb, stepfather Doug (Barb), siblings Bud (Cheri), Rhonda (Sue), Laurel, Lisa (Bethel), Gord (Dawn), Kyle (Kristina), and Jordan. Sadly he was preceded in death by his mother, Marilynn, and grandparents John and Emma Banerd and William and Ruth Guthrie.
Celebrations of life for Ty are planned in Colorado and British Columbia. Email invitations are being sent for the Colorado celebration at the end of June, and will be sent for the BC celebration planned for September 14 in Summerland. Condolences can be sent to Mary Harkness - 8 Sharpe Court, Longmont, CO 80501.
Given Ty’s deep and abiding love of the outdoors and his career in conserving it, and given his interests in music and art as well, we offer the following organizations or types of organizations that you may wish to donate to in his memory.
- The Islands Trust Conservancy, http://www.islandstrustconservancy.ca/; based in Victoria, BC
- The South Okanagan Conservation Fund, https://soconservationfund.ca/; based in Penticton, BC
- Any youth-oriented music, arts, outdoors, or related non-profit that you are drawn to; can be located anywhere (Canada, US, beyond); some random examples are:
- Elevation Outdoors, https://soconservationfund.ca/; based in Kelowna, BC
- ABLE to Sail, https://www.abletosail.org/; based in Longmont, CO
- Sarah McLachlan School of Music, https://www.sarahschoolofmusic.com/programs; based in Vancouver, BC
- Urban Native Youth Association, https://unya.bc.ca/impact/#how-we-work; based in Vancouver, BC
- Bolder Options, http://bolderoptions.org/; based in Minneapolis, MN
Tributes
Leave a tributeUntil we meet again. Love you and miss you.
A few memories I have…
Ty was a great photographer. He and his grandmother Emma shared a love for a bronze sculpture in Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver BC called
Photo Session. A life size sculpture of 3 people posing for a photo and another person as camera man. The piece is from artist Seward Johnson.
Ty also enjoyed reading, you could find various books on his shelf, ranging from Green Eggs and Ham, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to Audubon Bird Watching pocket guides.
Ty had a fantastic and welcoming family who he loved so much.
Rest In Peace.
Ty was undoubtedly forever blessed by his mountain days, adventures, and loving friends and family.
A. A. Milne
Ty, dear one
When I read these words of wisdom and love by the creator of Winnie the Pooh, I think of you for many reasons. How you have touched so many souls in so many different ways. But the most important thing is: Even if we're apart, you will always be with us. The kindness and love that was you will never die. You have become a part of our hearts and will be alive in us always.
You came into my life through my daughter, Susan. How I treasure you for the deep friendship you shared with Susan. I'll always remember how safe and loved I felt as you cared for me when I was in Boulder caring for Susan's house after she moved to Atlanta. I always knew you were just minutes away and so eager to help me with whatever I needed. You treated me as a loving son would treat his mother. My granddog, Dexter loved you more than words can express. He knew your car when you drove up to the door and could hardly contain his excitement until you opened the door and he could receive your amazing loving embrace.
Now we continue our mystical journey on this earth. Through tears and longing to be with you once more may we always remember, dear Ty, "I will alway be with you." Thank you for giving us your love, dearest one. Rest in Peace.
Even though I did not know Ty all that well, he has brought me many gifts - one of which is to remember to truly LIVE. I can best honor Ty by LIVING MY BEST LIFE every single day I have here on this great planet. Knowing that the world was losing Ty, an avid outdoors-man, nature lover and athlete, Ty's essence got into my own soul and he may not have know this but it is he who helped me to book a Grand Canyon rafting trip next April - a huge fear of mine - that I now know I will conquer and I will be grateful for every day and every experience I get to have. Ty is helping me conquer my fears and living life fully.
Thank you TY - thank you for being you, for living and bringing so much life into everyone around you - and I want to thank you for loving my dear friend Mary - your love and facing mortality head on has blossomed Mary into even more of an angel that she already was. I see truly great things ahead for her. Mary is a bright shining light and thanks to you Ty shines more brightly and beautifully than ever before. It fills my heart to know that you found each other and experienced love and a deep soul partnership before leaving here.
Losing Ty for each and every one of us leaves a deep loss, an inexplicable grief, and pain that may never truly be understood. But when we think of Ty, may our hearts know the joy and love that each day of being human brings us, and I know I will embrace each new day with a deep sense of gratitude.
Ty's work in his body is complete, but his soul is eternal. Ty made this world a better place and was a gift to humanity.
HUMAN I TY
When I feel Ty in my heart, my heart smiles back.
My family and I are deeply saddened by your passing, and we send love to your beautiful and loving wife, and the rest of your family. I look forward to feeling you beyond the veil...may your spirit sail and soar to infinity and beyond my friend...
xoxoxo Ambika
P.S. I have so many artifacts from you around my house, as you know I have for many years, which makes me very happy!! I am overwhelmed by your presence still in my life, so... thank you. :)
Many of the things most important in my life you introduced to me. And we had so many epic adventures. I always envisioned us hanging out even when we were really old. I am so sad I won't go through the rest of my life with you. But I am honoured to be your forever buddy, and to have experienced so much together with you.
Rest In Peace Ty !
p.s. I'll keep your loving watch over Mary and Rhonda for you
Leave a Tribute
Until we meet again. Love you and miss you.
A great friend
Ty was a great friend. We went through many journeys together in the earlier chapters of his life. We were best friends in school and enjoyed the summers in the Okanagan. We had so many adventures - I recall finally being allowed to go out on Friday nights and we walked around our small town, looking for trouble. Of course, it was summer and it didn't get dark until after 10pm, long after we had to be home. I remember when we snuck alcohol from his parents liquor cabinet, and, since they cleverly drew lines on the label to show whether any was missing, we took just a bit from every bottle, and mixed it together to drink. That did not work out well for either of us! I remember the day he got a turntable stereo system for his birthday, and we would play his "Venus and Mars" album (the only one he had) over and over, listening in amazement. Or learning to swim together and going to the swim meets all over BC, and later becoming lifeguards. Ty taught me to sail, and we certainly had countless adventures on the lake on windy (and not so windy) days. Heading to university, we were room mates and had more crazy adventures. Our paths have not crossed much in the last few decades, as life took us down different paths. Good luck on this next journey my friend. I will miss you Ty.
Ty entered my life as a tour guide. I accompanied my sister, Susan, to the TNC Boulder office before she relocated to Boulder with the company. His immediate warmth, humor, gorgeous face and heavenly eyes met us at the door to show us the lay of the TNC land. But that was only the auspicious beginning. Our paths would cross many times over the years to follow as he and Susan became very close friends, roommates, artists in union, The Voice viewer compadres, and such...We were lucky enough to spend time with him whenever we visited Boulder over the last decade. He made music with my kids, painted with them and me, walked the dog, cooked and dined and simply graced our lives with time together on many occasions. We were lucky enough to meet Mary 4 years ago at Susan's going away party in Longmont. He and Mary were not yet coupled, but the spark was palpable. For Mary we are so very grateful as she spun a web of golden thread around Ty for this chapter of his life. What a joy to have known about his joy with her. As I write, I stare up at his picture above my computer. Thank you for you, Ty Cameron Guthrie. What a pleasure you have been.