Obituary for Martha Dalrymple Guffey Martha Dalrymple Guffey passed away on September 21, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Martha was born on September 7, 1929, in Amory, Mississippi, to Arch, Jr. and Kathleen Wilbanks Dalrymple. She graduated from Sullins College Academy in Virginia, attended Rollins College in Florida, and graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1951 where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Martha moved to Dallas in 1953 as an assistant buyer in the Gifts and Stationery Department of Neiman Marcus where she loved working with new brides and their families. Thereafter, she taught at Dallas Country Day School. In 1971, Martha married the love of her life, J.D. Guffey.
She was extremely supportive of her husband’s pursuits which included regularly entertaining clients of their company, Apollo Drilling and Exploration. Known for her beautiful sense of style, ever-present smile, keen sense of humor, and distinctive Southern accent, Martha always made sure everyone felt welcome and enjoyed themselves. Martha’s lifetime love of travel began with a family car trip from Amory to Chicago for the 1934 World’s Fair.
A sense of adventure took her on multiple trips around the world. She admired the American West, which began when she attended summer school at the University of Wyoming. Martha and J.D. would spend part of their winters in Arizona and their summers in Wyoming where they enjoyed golfing, fly-fishing, and the company of many friends at the Old Baldy Club.
Family, friendships, reading and the performing arts were great s of joy for Martha. She adored her grandchildren and would often entertain them with tales of growing up in the Deep South, world travel, and culture. Her strength and determination served as a rock and role model for her family.
She was a longtime member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Brook Hollow Golf Club, the Dallas Petroleum Club, and numerous book clubs. Martha is survived by daughter, Kathleen Smith Blair of Dallas and her husband, Robert; son, Scott D. Guffey of Dallas; step-daughter, Pamela Guffey Balser of Dallas and her husband, Alan Balser; step-daughter, Patti Guffey Jones of Dumas Arkansas and her husband, Michael Jones; seven grandchildren, Jack Blair, Andrew Blair, William Blair, Laura Balser Mangan, Charlotte Balser Pridgen, Anne Jones Williams, and Katherine Britt Jones; and several nieces and a nephew with whom she regularly kept in touch. Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, J.D. Guffey, her brother, Arch Dalrymple III, and her sister, Jane Dalrymple Whitehead.
The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to Martha’s caregivers, Cheri Zettel, Aisha Job, Doris Mejia, and Digna Mungia, and her personal assistant Dawnna Brooks. A Memorial Service to celebrate Martha’s life will be held on Friday, September 28, at 4:00 pm at St. Michael’s and All Angels Chapel in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, or the charity of one’s choice.
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