Juanita Kay Gardner

Juanita was born January 21,1928 to John Edgar and Nora Francis Ketchum Willis in Hugo, Oklahoma.

She decided she wanted to learn how to be pilot and fly a plane. In an era when women aspiring to become pilots faced immense societal barriers, Juanita emerged as a trailblazer. Her mom Nora supported Juanita in this effort and when she was 17 so she brought her daughter to the airport to take Lessons. The lessons paid off and she passed her test, obtained her Pilots License, and began to concur the skies.

She met and married the love of her Life Edmond, and they began a family. A few years down the road, after her and Edmond were married; they went together with a friend and bought a Piper Cub airplane. Juanita’s mom lived in Hugo, Oklahoma and they lived in Wichita, Kansas so it would work well to avoid the roads and fly down to Hugo to visit her mother.

When her husband was working in the Civil Engineering field and would spend time working on the roads. Juanita would do a “fly over” the place he was working and roll the plane back and forth to “Say Hi!”

When Juanita and Edmond were younger, Ed was an avid sportsman; together they enjoyed fishing, and buckshot competitions. She supported him through all his hobbies, and they would often play golf together.

When her husband passed in 1972 from health issues, Juanita found herself as a single mother to her children James and Kay. She went back to school at this time to provide the best life possible for her family and obtained a degree as a Registered nurse.

In addition to being a loving and present mother, she was dedicated to providing care and comfort to those in need, leaving an indelible imprint on the lives she touched. After a long and fulfilling career of 25 years as a nurse at Providence Medical Center, Juanita retired, but her passion for healing remained unwavering. Her selflessness and unwavering commitment to others will forever be remembered, as will her gentle smile and compassionate heart.

Juanita's legacy encompasses not only her invaluable contributions as a nurse, but also the love and warmth she shared with her loved ones, who will hold her memory dear and be forever grateful for the light she brought into their lives.

In her retirement years, she took many road trips enjoying her home state of Washington and the splendor of the scenery and spent time worshiping our Savior at the Methodist Church

in Everett. She loved trying new restaurants and had a taste for Southern Creole flavors.

Juanita is preceded in death by her parents, husband Edmond, son James E. Gardner, daughter Kay Francis Gardner, her sister Francis R. Pierson, nephew Howard Pierson, and nephew-in-Law Ben Howard Adams.

Juanita leaves behind her Daughter-In-Law Lynda M. Gardner, nieces Hilda Adam's, Heidi (Larry) Simmons, great niece Andrea Cruse (Leslie), great great nephew Julian Cruse, great nephew Taylor (Samantha) Knight, nephew Steven (Paige) Pierson, great nieces Mary Pierson, Claire Pierson, First Cousins, Thomas Ketchum and Elizabeth Ketchum (James) Marler.

Juanita was loved by many and she will never be forgotten.