Juanita "Karen" Guard

Juanita “Karen” Guard, age 71, of Grants Pass, died Saturday, March 31, 2012 at her home.

A viewing will be at 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Hull & Hull Chapel. Interment will follow at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens.

She was born Juanita Karen Page on September 29, 1940 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Hugo & Marlys Page. In 1958 she graduated from Grants Pass High School. For 14 years she lived away from Grants Pass in California and Texas. After returning to Grants Pass she worked for many years in a Grants Pass hospital and nursing home. She was also a private home care provider for 20 years caring for seniors in the Grants Pass area.

Before a state program was implemented, while living in California Karen organized meals on wheels for local seniors and coordinated trips to Reno and Las Vegas. She was an avid supporter of the humane society and other charities.

Her hobbies included square dancing, ballroom dancing, fishing, camping, gardening, flowers, drawing profiles, and spending time with her family.

Survivors include two daughters, Jeanette Harrington of Sprague River, Oregon and Darcy Turner of Grants Pass, Oregon; two sons, Eric Guard and Patrick Byfield both of Grants Pass, Oregon; four sisters, Dawn Phillips of Grants Pass, Oregon, Constance Donica of Reno, Nevada, Charlotta Williams and Patricia Slocum both of Prescott Valley, Arizona; ten grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Bruce Byfield in 1984 and Kevin Byfield in 1988; a grandson, Bruce Byfield in 2008; her parents Hugo Page in 1984 and Marlys Page in 1985; her paternal grandparents, Jack & Alvina Page; and maternal grandfather, Herman McClaughrey.