Paul Guthrie Jr.

Paul F. Guthrie, Jr., was born December 5th, 1942, passed on April 24th, 2025, in Lexington, Ky, at age 82. He was a native of Harlan County, Kentucky. After the untimely accidental death of his father he, his mother, and sister moved to Dyersburg, Tennessee where he graduated from high school in 1960. He was an honors graduate of the University of Kentucky Law School in 1967. While at UK he was two times Commander (President) of Sigma Nu fraternities. He was a veteran of the United States Army discharged in 1969 with the rank of E-5.

Paul practiced law for many years, always representing people who needed help, in areas including criminal defense, general litigation, workers' compensation and representing claimants in Social Security disability cases.

While in law school he was a member of the Kentucky Law Journal. Only the top students were selected for the law journal. Paul was admitted to practice in the United States including the District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He was also a member of the Fayette County and Kentucky Bar Association.

Paul was a lifetime member of the Sierra Club and was on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Chapter during the time it, under the leadership of Oscar H. Geralds, Jr., successfully prevented the damming of the Red River which would have flooded the Red River Gorge. Paul was on the board of Fayette County Legal aid which provided criminal defense to indigent defendants for over 30 years. Along with his friend Tim Cone, he coached Little League baseball at Castlewood Park.

Paul is survived by his son, Paul F. Guthrie, III (Tiffany); and his ex-wife Gail Houghton; grandchildren Paul F. Guthrie IV, Isabella, Charlie, Maisie and Bodhi of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; his sisters Ginger Norvell (Louis) of Atlanta, GA, and Louella Weaver (Guy) of Memphis, TN; two long-time assistants, Martha Murray and Lisa McConathy; and his cats. The cats are provided for in his will like a lot of the family members.

 A private burial will take place at Resthaven Cemetery on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 12PM.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the scholarship fund at the University of Kentucky established to assist students from Harlan and Bell Counties, the Paul F. Guthrie scholarship fund, or the Lexington Humane Society. He left a portion of his estate to each of these.