Dr. Joseph Roy Guyther, MD, 93, passed away December 18, 2013, at his long time residence in Mechanicsville, MD. Born July 31, 1920, in Mechanicsville, he was the son of the late Roy and Helena Robrecht Guyther. He was predeceased by three brothers; William, Jack, and Oliver; and one sister, Mary Ann.

He graduated from Charlotte Hall Military Academy in 1937 with honors, and continued his college education at the University of Maryland College Park as a pre-med student and then at the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, for his doctorate, graduating on December 23, 1943. He served his internship at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore.

He was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth "Liddy" Tyrie Guyther , whom he married on December 27, 1943. They were married for 69 years.

He is survived by his two children, Kathlyn Tyrie Guyther Logan of Kennebunk, Maine, and Joseph Roy, Jr. and wife Rose Ellen of Abell; four grandchildren, Deirdre Elizabeth Logan and husband Adam Berinsky of Cambridge, MA, John Scott Logan and wife Carrie of Yarmouth, Maine, Dana Finnacom Guyther and fiancé Shelley Robinson of Baltimore, and Blake Finnacom Guyther and wife Kathleen of North Potomac. He is also survived by six great grandchildren, Benjamin and Lila Berinsky, Selwyn and Everett Logan, and Nicholas and Abigail Guyther.

In March 1946, he entered the U.S. Army Medical Corp and served for two years in North Carolina at Moore General Hospital and at Fort George G. Meade near Baltimore. He was discharged early as a Captain to begin a medical practice in St. Mary's County which was started on January 1, 1948. As a family physician, he started his practice in the Village of Mechanicsvile and continued there until August 1, 1990. During his practice, Dr. Guyther was active both locally and nationally belonging to many medical organizations, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Med-Chi Council. He served as the President of the Med-Chi in 1982. He also taught full-time at the University of Maryland's School of Medicine Department of Family Practice in Baltimore in 1972. He was instrumental in the establishment of the St. Mary's Nursing Center in Leonardtown, MD.

He was award as the Family Doctor of the Year in 1979 given by the American Academy of Family Physicians and was recognized by First Lady Rosalyn Carter at the White House. He delivered over 1900 babies at St. Mary's Hospital.

Among his many interests, he was a member of the St. Mary's County Historical Society, Southern Maryland Society, Charlotte Hall School Board of Trustees, and St. Vincent DePaul Society. During his retirement he wrote eight books finishing his last one in September 2013.

The family will receive friends for Dr. Guyther's life celebration on Friday, December 20, from 4-8 p.m. at Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Maryland, with prayers recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, December 21, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Mechanicsville by Reverend Michael Tietjen. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Queen of Peace Cemetery in Helen, MD.

The family thanks Always There Companion Care and their staff for providing Dr. Guyther their devoted attention and care.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society c/o Immaculate Conception Church, P.O. Box 166, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.