BEULAH SHOUN GUFFEY, age 96 died Thursday, April 19, 2007 at her home in Englewood, Tenn. after a brief illness.

Beulah was born in a homestead in Spray, Oregon on May 11, 1910. As a young girl, raised orphaned lambs. She could recall riding her ownhorse alongside "the big Cowboys". She taught her grandchildren and great grandchildren how to sing "Jesus Loves Me" in Indian and told them stories about the Indians riding by their ranch every spring. She witnessed them dance by their tents and saw hermother trade dried apples and preserves for moccasin shoes.

After her father, Benjamin McDonald Shoun died when she was 15, they moved to Johnson City, Tenn. Her mother Flora Maiden Shoun put Beulah and her two sisters Marguerite and Esma and twobrothers Carl and Elmo on a train that took 5 days and 5 nights to get back to Tennessee. Beulah graduated from Science Hill High School in 1928. In Johnson City, she met and married her partner of 60 years Charles Warner "Boss Man" Guffey. The operated a hamburger restaurant/produce market, "Little Food Market" in downtown Athens on West Madison Avenue for 45 years. The had many beloved and faithful customers. Their favorites were the many high school students from the old McMinn County High School. They were known for giving away as many hamburgers "on credit" as they sold.

Beulah was a devoted mother, homemaker and Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher at Central Baptist Church of Athens and then at First Baptist Church of Athens where she attended for decades. "Blessed are the Meek" is the beatitude that comes to mind when one recalls her living example. She was preceded in death by her Husband: Charles Warner Guffey  Great Grandson: Clark Warner and Son-in-law: Dr. Hoyt Dees. Survivors:Daughter: Dolores Guffey Dees Englewood, Tenn. Granddaughter:Kathryn Dees Warner Athens, Tn.Two Grandsons and Wives:David and Tracy Dees Athens, Tenn.Mark and Claire Dees Suwannee, Ga.Two Great Granddaughters:Katelyn Warner Athens, Tenn. Jennifer Dees Campany  Brooklyn, New YorkFour Great Grandsons:Brandon Dees   Nashville, Tenn.Blake Dees   Suwannee, Ga.David Dees, Jr. Athens, Tenn.Hunter Dees   Athens, Tenn.

Graveside services will be held 1:00 P. m. Tuesday in Guffey-Shell Cemetery with Rev. Ray Brown officiating. All are welcomed to attend. Active pallbearers will be Brandon Dees, David Dees, Jr., Hunter Dees, Jim Jackson and Bob Nichols. Honorarypallbearers will be Dr. John McKenzie, Dr. William E. Foree, Jr. and Dr. Bill Davis.

Those wishing may make memorial contributions in Beulah's Memory to the Missions Fund at First Baptist Church 305 Ingleside Ave. Athens, Tenn. 37303 and/or MorningstarMinistries P. O. Box 126 Athens, Tenn. 37371-0126.