Juanita Harden

Juanita Harden was born on March 3, 1945 to the late Frank Harden and the late Geneva Smiley in Montgomery, AL. Due to an error by the midwife’s assistant at the time for filling out her birth record, she had to officially adopt February 3, 1945 as her birthday when she retired.

Juanita graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1963 and then moved to Gary, Indiana. She worked as a cashier for Food Seller grocery store for many years and then worked as a Correctional Officer at Westville Corrections Center for more than 20 years.

Juanita had a zest for life and enjoyed visiting family and having fun. She always said there were no “steps” and no “halves” in her family, family was just family. Juanita enjoyed fishing and she loved teaching others to fish. It brought her great joy to see others catch their first fish. Another favorite pass time of Juanita’s was playing cards. When she was not playing Bid Whist, she was playing Solitaire.

Cooking was important to Juanita; she always wanted to make sure her family had enough to eat. Her weekday meals were done by 3pm and her Sunday Dinners were ready to eat by noon. If she felt really good, then there would be a 7 Up pound cake for dessert.

Juanita was not afraid to try new things and always said, “you never know until you try”. She enjoyed meeting new people and giving nicknames to family members and those she met. Juanita lived her life to the fullest extent possible and brought joy to those who knew her.

Juanita was preceded in death by her son William “Billy” Harden, her parents, Frank Harden and Geneva Smiley, her twin sister, Alfreda Smith, other sisters, Annie Porter, Mary Barnes and Frankie Ambrose, and her brothers, Frank Harden, Jr. and Dennis Harden.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Evora “Niecy” Moore (Larry) (Arlington, TX); granddaughters, Lauren Moore, Lindsey Moore (Arlington, TX), grandson, Logan Moore (Valparasio, IN); brothers, Samuel (Brenda) Nash (Detroit, MI), Vernon Harden, Nordan Harden (Montgomery, AL); sisters, Estelle Rose (Montgomery, AL), Helen Dodge (Mississippi), Tricena Harden (Kalamazoo, MI), Yvette Feldman (Montgomery, AL), Annie Pearl Ross (Gary, IN), Viola Williams (Georgia), Delores Pinkson, Patricia Robinson, and Gwendolyn Roland (Montgomery, AL); and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Juanita did not like saying goodbye, so we will end this as she always would, see you later.

A private graveside service for Juanita will be held Saturday, January 15, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Moore Memorial Gardens, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012. A Zoom memorial service will be held Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 2:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the HARDEN family.