Frederick F. Guthrie Jr.

Agency: Missouri State Highway Patrol, MO

Trooper Frederick F. Guthrie Jr. grew up in Knob Noster, MO, the youngest of three children. 

When Fred’s wife Teresa was a senior in high school, Fred, who was voted “best looking” by his classmates, asked her out on a date. However, her parents wouldn’t allow her to say yes to the young attractive college boy until after she finished high school... So, after she graduated they went to each other and dated for two and a half years before getting married and then having three children named; Amber, Dylan, and Cody. 

Fred was an avid sports fan and was, “very competitive” said Teresa, “sports, board games, everything”. And especially with his children he was competitive, “Nine times out of 10, he’d have no experience with (the game he was playing) and he’d still beat you,” said Cody. “You had to win, he wouldn’t let you”. 

In addition to being a fan of sports, Fred was also a coach on his daughter Amber’s basketball team for several years; coached his sons in basketball, football, and baseball. He and Teresa even coached their sons’ soccer team one year when they were in grade school. “I miss his excitement about what the kids did,” said Teresa, “All he talked about was seeing what his kids were doing”. It was so much so that he would be in attendance to every basketball game Amber would have. Regardless if you knew Fred, you could hear that he was the loudest, you could see the enormous excitement in his eyes, and you knew… that that area on the bench was his spot, and that no one should stand in his way of his spot for his child’s game.

Amber recalls that Fred’s love of basketball transferred to all three of his children. “I was a freshman in high school, a big fan of Connecticut. Dad found out they were coming to town for NCAA tournament in KC. Just me and him went and watched them play… Dad and I watched every game on the weekend. (But now) It’s not the same. We don’t watch basketball anymore,” said Amber.

Fred was also a committed father to his sons games, activities, and personal lives.  “Dylan was Fred’s pride and joy on the football field,” said Teresa. “Dylan’s favorite memory would probably be after the Trenton game. The other team’s announcers were talking about Dylan, a sophomore at the time, and how talented he was”

“Pops found that (announcers comments about Dylan) online and listened to it over and over,” said Cody. It made him so proud. Cody also recalls, “My seventh grade baseball team was the first year I didn’t play for my dad.... We hadn’t won a game. The coach couldn’t make it, and they asked parents if anyone would coach. Dad stepped up. We were tied and I got up to bat and hit a home run. As I rounded first base I saw him going to home plate. When I got there, he threw me up in the air. I had never been thrown that high. He was more excited than I was” and that is just the man Fred was. He was a fighter, a community figure, and was a man devoted to his children.

As mentioned before, Fred was a very committed man who valued healthy competition! As such he made preparations to ensure that his children were the best they could possibly be. Amber recalls, “He drew a circle in the driveway and I had to make baskets from the circle until I made so many before I could go play with friends,” said Amber. “I hated that at the time, but appreciated it in high school.”  Teresa said Fred would rebound for his kids when they shot baskets. “I can’t imagine what the people who bought our house thought. There were a lot of spray painted circles on the driveway.” 

But Fred’s commitmentment to his family and community extended beyond the home. Amber recalls; “He’d take me to school to shoot baskets and one day I was shooting baskets and he disappeared,'' said Amber with a smile. “I found out later that he was in the weight room lifting lots of weight to show the boys… He would do that with the high school boys when he played basketball with them. He was big stuff,” said Amber. Also, being the humorous man he was Fred also, “called himself Baby Shack or White Chocolate” said his son Cody. 

His reputation in the high school weight room was also noticed by the love of his life Teresa. She says, “Fred knew those kids and had nicknames for them... one is a senior this year Fred called Pookie. He is still called that. I don’t know how many nicknames are floating around the school that Fred gave” but it most certainly was numerous.

Fred loved the outdoors, and was an avid fisherman and hunter. Teresa said he was always outside doing something. “Any time we went fishing he said he was going to catch the biggest fish and he did,” said Cody. “One time he pointed to a bad fishing spot for himself and put us at the good one. He was reeling them in and we didn’t catch anything… his last bow kill was in May of my eighth grade year, he called me to bring the four-wheeler to him,” said Cody. “I’m thinking he killed a deer. I drive down to where we park and call him. He didn’t even say hello. He screamed. I hung up and drove to him, because I heard the [actual] scream over the phone scream. It was a 10-point buck.”

His family remembers how humorous it was when Fred tried to sneak meat from game he hunted into dinners. And recalls his love for grilling for the family, and trying new ways to cook vegetables and other grill options. 

Teresa describes Fred as a big kid, “Fred was a kid at heart. He was always playing with the kids, always doing things. In the summer his days off were during the week, and he and those kids were doing something together–diving for golf balls, (or) fishing.” Fred was also good with people and never met a stranger. He was a talker Teresa said, and he texted her all the time. He would go to boat shows, and after walking around and engaging with everyone, he’d come back home with cards and pamphlets. Sometimes, he brought home animals, such as ducks and geese. 

Fred was larger than life, but he was also human. His family says he laughed like a little girl, and he was fearful of lightning. And, Fred didn’t always have the best of luck. “We’d just got a grill and he was trying to get it to start,” said Cody. “He dropped a match and it went ‘Pfoom!’ He turned around with black on his face and I said, ‘You have no eyebrows.’” 

In another instance Teresa recalls, “One day, when Fred was driving, he looked over into a field and saw deer. (But) Because he was looking at the deer, he drove off the road and ended up with a flat tire. When he was changing it the car fell off the jack… He got gas that day and forgot to take the pump out. When he went to the ATM, it was windy, and the cash blew away. All of this happened the same day. He didn’t have good luck, especially that day.” 

Fred lived for all of his family, but especially for his wife, Teresa and his children: Amber, Dylan, and Cody. He didn’t care what shift he had to work as long as he could make it to their game. Fred was a man of passion. He had passion for his job, his beliefs, and his childrens hobbies. Sergeant Bryan G. Parrott, Troop A, says Fred was his hero because Fred confronted his fears. Sergeant. Parrott  reports Fred received several awards for saving a lady’s life during a storm with 60 mph winds and lightning. Fred confronted his fear of lightning and put a civilian’s life ahead of his… this shows the man he was. In addition, Sgt. Parrott said at SWAT school Fred had to rappel, but he was not too fond about doing it. Fred did not like heights, it was one of his main fears. But, because of who he was (a fighter), Fred went over the edge with the rest of his team repeatedly. 

Towards the end, Fred became a K-9 handler and got a new partner named Reed. He loved having a canine partner to work with every day and Reed was a very friendly friend who brought new life to the job for Fred.

Trooper Frederick F. Guthrie Jr. was a devoted man to his family, a hero to his community, and has made an everlasting impact on all of those who he has engaged with. Fred was a warrior, a considerate man, and an inspiration to those around him.

Trooper Frederick F. Guthrie Jr. was survived by his wife, Teresa, and children, Amber, Dylan, and Cody.

Reflections:

This is undoubtedly a hard thing to process. We have become really good friends with Fred over the years in Holt County. He has been in Holt County a lot over the last few years, due to flooding. He was a great man and friend and will deeply be missed! Thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and Co-workers of the MSHP. Also, keeping the several involved in the search in our prayers! God please let him be found soon! Fred you were a great asset to the water patrol and Hwy patrol. Rest in Peace.”

Rick & Kristina Dozier
South Holt Fire
Atchison-Holt Ambulance
Oregon, MO

To the family of Trooper Guthrie.

I offer my condolences to all of you on the loss of your father and husband. As a part time employee of the Camp Branch Marina at Smithville Lake it has been my pleasure to know Fred's children who also work part time at the lake. In addition it has been my pleasure to have had several conversations with Trooper Guthrie as we serviced his boat or simply being around the marina talking to the boaters. I had the pleasure of a conversation with Fred two days prior to this accident and will always cherish that visit.

Glenn Johnson
Friend

References:

www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/UltimateSacrifice/OfficerPages/documents/Guthrie.pdf