Biography: Paul Edward Guthrie, FKA “Snake,” of Louisville, KY was born March 1, 1971, and died at age 54 on January 17, 2026, which is objectively unfair.

Paul was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer and faced it with grit, grace, and a level of wry humor that made it clear it was not going to set the tone. He remained adventurous, fun, silly, sharp, and entirely himself.

Paul was, in no particular order: a husband, father, friend, brother, uncle, son, the fastest skipper we ever saw, a proud Derry Girl, and the inventor of the Guthrie Stomp.

Born in Little Rock, Paul spent his formative years in Conway, where he made friendships that lasted the rest of his life and we are pretty darn certain will continue beyond. Growing up in Conway, he was often spotted roaming the campus of Hendrix College by bike or on foot, long before he ever became a student there. His dad served as the college chaplain for 25 years, which meant Hendrix was as much a backdrop to his childhood as it was to his adulthood.

He graduated from Hendrix in 1993 with a theatre degree, which naturally meant a career in IT. He was proudly a Martin Hall Man and collected more never-ending friendships while there. Although he did not know it at the time, he also met his wife.

After college, Paul headed west, living in Portland, Oregon, with a brief stint in Montana. He loved the Northwest coast, open roads, and long stretches of time that involved travel, music, and at least one dog, most notably Hoss, who was his companion across the prairies and on many solo ramblings around the country.

Luckily for everyone involved, Paul eventually returned to Little Rock, where his college nemesis, Susan Critz, ended up being the one he wanted to do life with. They married in 1998 in a wedding that waited until the Razorbacks finished the game (because priorities), followed by a party remembered by many as the single best wedding reception in history.

Paul shared a deep love of the Arkansas Razorbacks with Susan throughout their marriage and was also devoted to his beloved St. Louis Cardinals, loyalties he held with enthusiasm and conviction.

After a short stay in Florida, which Paul loved for the ocean, oysters, shrimp & corn. He and Susan returned to Little Rock along with their first child, Wally. Three years later, Anna arrived, and the family was complete.

Paul was an excellent father and a rather famous Uncle Paul. When Wally was little, he carried them around like a sack of potatoes, often and effortlessly.   He later introduced Anna to her favorite song, “Stray Cat Strut,” and took particular pride in shaping his children’s musical education. He also passed along his devilishly dark sense of humor.

Music mattered. Paul believed in real, honest, great music, everything from Iron Maiden to The Beach Boys, but his love of Pink Floyd reigned supreme. He had a collection of guitars he loved, some hanging on the wall and others on stands, and he spent his life picking them up, strumming them, or knocking out the intro to “Dead or Alive.”

He was a gift giver who genuinely loved doing things for other people. Paul took real joy in making others happy, helping friends and family find great deals on computers, and bringing a sense of whimsy to everyday life.

After his diagnosis, Paul spent the next three and a half years doing what he had always done, living life. Friends from all over the world came to see him. There were visits, trips, concerts, long conversations, and a lot of music. Without ever making a speech about it, he inspired all of us to live harder, choose happiness more deliberately, and not wait around for permission. 

He was a unique and fiercely loyal friend.

Paul is survived by his wife, Susan Critz Guthrie of Louisville, KY; his children, Wally and Anna of the home; his sister, Holly Guthrie Martin (Mike) of Portsmouth, Ohio; and a family of in-laws who loved him as their own and dropped the “in-law” moniker because they were all family: Jay and Mary Ann Critz of Little Rock, AR, and sisters Margaret Critz (currently roaming), Catherine Snyder of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Miranda Greear of Roanoke, Virginia.

He is also survived by a passel of nieces and nephews, Matt Hill, LaTasha (Snyder) Miller (Austin), John and Moth Snyder, and Molly, Libby, and Charles Greear, to whom, in a final act of love or perhaps revenge, he sent slingshots for Christmas.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, The Rev. Jon D. Guthrie and Jan Guthrie.
The family extends sincere thanks to Chelsea Bryan for her love, care, and humor during these last months and the infusion nurses at Baptist Eastpointe Hospital in Louisville.

Paul was not interested in being remembered as perfect. He was interested in being himself. And he did that extremely well.

In lieu of flowers, please get your colonoscopy! If you are up to date and would rather, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Faulker County or the Louisville Leopards Percussionists.

We will hold a Celebration of Paul’s life on February 10, 2026, at 3:00pm at the Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel in Little Rock, AR.

Friends and family are invited to gather with the Guthrie family afterward at U.S. Pizza Co. Hillcrest (upstairs party room) to share stories, music, memories, and raise a glass to Paul.