Bernadine Jo Guyton

Dene Dye Guyton A resident of Chico since 1964 when her husband joined the faculty of Chico State University. Born to Loraine Dye and Bernie Dye in Rock Springs, Wyoming on August 1, 1934. While growing up she lived in Rock Springs Wyoming, Montana, New York, Missouri, Washington, Arizona and California. She graduated from Tulare Union High School (Tulare, CA), College of the Sequoias (Visalia, CA), and received her BA from Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX. She took numerous professional courses later. She married Bill Guyton in Monterey CA on January 29, 1954. They lived in California, Georgia, Mississippi, Wyoming and Texas before settling in Chico in 1964. Her employment history ranged from a maid and waitress in Sequoia National Park while in college, to executive secretary, to elementary school teacher, to gerontologist. From 1974 to 1995 she was part of the staff at the (SIRC) Senior Information and Referral Center at CSU, Chico and its successor the Janet Levy Center (Area Agency on Aging.) She originally worked as an Advocacy/Outreach Associate and supervised CSU, Chico interns. The last 10 years she was Coordinator/Director of Elder Education. In this capacity she was in charge of implementing the establishment of ElderCollege at CSU, Chico and the development of the learning in retirement organization on campus known as "PrimeTimers". Also for several years she organized and ran a session of Elderhostel, a national non-profit adventure in learning program each summer. She was very proud of her direct part in establishing and overseeing ElderCollege and PrimeTimers. She is survived by her husband Bill Guyton of Chico; daughters Trudy Guyton-Stoner of Boise and Suzanne Guyton DaVirro of Lincoln and her husband Michael DaVirro; Granddaughter Krista Carrigan (Shaun Carrigan), Great grandson Matthew Carrigan, Granddaughter Kara Richards (Frank Matthews), Granddaughter Kaelyn Dunn, Granddaughter Kyra Dunn, Great granddaughter Azlynn Matthews, Great grandson Aiden Matthews, Grandson Dain DaVirro, Granddaughter Cayleigh DaVirro; and Special Friends - Imogene Speiser, Carmel, Joyce Griffith, Chico, Pat Murphy, Chico. Organizations: League of Women Voters of Butte County since 1965 - She led a number of their in-depth studies; was on the board; first Butte County delegate selected to represent LWVBC at National convention (selected 2 more times); Editor of newsletter. Chico Cooperative Nursery School - On the original board when it was being formed over 30 years ago. Sierra Club, Greenpeace and Various environmental groups/organizations. PrimeTimers of CSU, Chico. Interests: Until late in life - backpacking in High Sierras with her husband; hiking and camping in general; deep interest in national and world political issues; classical music; exploring new places and travelling; profound love of her children and grandchildren, her husband, exploring the USA and the world.