Ordene Randall Guttery died in her beloved home in Holbrook on June 9, 2023. She was born July 3,1931, in her Grandma Stratton’s home in Snowflake to Lena Stratton and Alfred Harvey Randall. Her family lived in Joseph City. Ordene was one of 12 children born to Harvey and Lena. Her brother and sisters were Raymond, Maurine (Despain), Norman, Tempy (died in childhood), Nelda (Brinkerhoff), Fern (Whiting), Lorana (Whiting), Doyle, Beth (Gardner), Evelyn (Solomon) and Ina (MacDonald). In 1941, the Randall family moved to Holbrook. Ordene attended Holbrook High School where she was a baton twirler in the Drum and Bugle Corp. She also met her sweetheart Willard Guttery. After graduating in 1949 from high school, Ordene moved to California where she worked as a bank teller. Willard and Ordene were married shortly after Willard returned from serving in the Korean War. They returned to Holbrook to live and start their own family. Willard was an only child and wanted to have a lot of children. Ordene gave birth to six children, Catherine Ann (Haws), Jacqueline Kay (Hatch), Karen Sue (Hatch), John Dallas, William Randall and Carole Lyn (Steiner). Even though Ordene was very busy with the children, she always supported and worked alongside Willard in a variety of businesses. In the early 1980’s she earned her Arizona state real estate license and started working with Willard at Guttery Realty. Willard was the broker and loved all the paperwork and Ordene loved working with people. After closing Guttery Realty, Willard and Ordene self-managed numerous rental properties. Ordene continued to manage the properties after Willard’s death and was often seen cleaning those (and other) yards. Ordene also found time to walk (briskly) with her girlfriends. The walks also included lively conversation, pulling weeds, and picking up trash. Ordene was very active in her Church and Holbrook Community. She supported Willard in his many civic activities including serving as mayor of Holbrook and on the Navajo County Board of Supervisors. She was a supporter of First Step Workshop, serving as chairperson for the annual salad luncheon fundraiser for 10 years. In 1999 she was given a Humanitarian of the Year Award at Holbrook’s Community Awards Dinner. She loved serving alongside her friends from the Methodist Church (Girl Scouts), Catholic Charities and Bread of Life. She played bridge and was a member of the Kill-Kare-Klub. As a life-time member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints she was active in both the Cub Scouts, Young Women’s Camp and Relief Society. Ordene made and delivered countless meals, Texas Sheet Cakes and, of course, bread to family and friends. From a very young age, she was devoted to feeding people. Even as a child, she would check with the other children at school as to whether or not they had brought a lunch. If not, she would take them home with her to make sure they were fed. Ordene’s favorite hobby was working in her yard. She always had one of the most beautiful yards in Holbrook. Her greatest enemy were weeds and cockroaches; many died at her pull or stomp. Ordene also loved her daily Coca-Cola. She often said she would just have “one a day”. Her family lovingly called her the “energizer bunny” and her favorite slogan was “work, work, work”. Ordene is survived by sisters, Fern and Evelyn and brother, Doyle, her six children, 22 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 30, with services to follow at 10 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Holbrook. Burial will be at Holbrook Cemetery. Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow handled the arrangements.
