Dr. John McQueen Guttery Jr.

Renowned local dentist Dr. John McQueen Guttery Jr. died Friday at Dyersburg Manor Nursing Care. He was 87.

"There wasn't a finer or better dentist in the world," said longtime friend Billy Yates. "Dr. Guttery was a good citizen, a great contributor to the community. He will be missed."

Guttery, a 12-year member of the Dyersburg City School Board, was a World War II veteran and served as a dentist in London in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

He attended the University of Alabama from 1933- 1935 and graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in Dental Medicine in 1939. He was a life member of the Tennessee State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. He served on the Tennessee State Board of Dental Examiners from 1956-1962 and was elected to a Fellowship in the American College of Dentists in 1956.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served on the official board of the Board of Trustees.

"Dr. Guttery was one of the outstanding gentlemen of his time," said R.H. "Red" Bond, a longtime friend who for many years worked at the Southern Bell telephone office downtown, next to Guttery's dental office. "He was held in the highest respect by anyone who knew him. He and his wife and family are some of the nicest people you could ever know. I counted it a privilege to be his friend."

Yates said Guttery had strong faith in the church.

"We was a strong believer in prayer," said Yates. "Once he told me he was out picking up limbs and got down and couldn't get up. He said he wrestled around and tried to pick himself up, but couldn't.

"He said 'I better get me some help' and began to pray.

"Sometime soon thereafter a meterman or mailman or someone -- someone who wasn't on their regular schedule for whatever reason -- happened to walk by and see him there. He showed that prayer works."

"He was also an excellent dentist -- I still have some gold in my mouth he put in there 54 years ago."

Guttery is survived by a daughter, Katherine Guttery Evans of Dyersburg; two sons, John M. Guttery III of Germantown and Stephen D. Guttery of Dyersburg' eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian Ballard Guttery,

Visitation is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. today at Curry Funeral Home.

Graveside services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Fairview Cemetery.