Juanell (Thornton) Gardenhire

ARCADIA – Mrs. Juanell Thornton Gardenhire passed away at the age of 93 on November 10, 2025, in Santa Fe.

Juanell was born on January 15, 1932, in Slaton, TX to Hollis and Zelra Thornton. The family moved to La Marque where Juanell attended La Marque High School while working for Rexall Drug Store in La Marque. After graduating in 1950, Juanell went on to work for American National for a couple of years before staying home and raising her children. She was a wonderful seamstress, making all her daughters’ clothes and eventually passing her knowledge on to her girls. Juanell was a huge part of the Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and enjoyed helping with the “Civil Defense” program. Juanell loved spending time in her garden and tending to it when she could.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hollis Herman and Zelra Francis (Devore) Thornton; husband, Charles Edwin “Pete” Gardenhire; son-in-law, Phillip Massey; brother, Hollis, Jr.; sisters, Burt T. and Mary Jo.

Survivors include her son, Edwin Gardenhire; daughters, Daphine Massey and husband, Ricky, Wanda Beard and husband, Scott; sister, Emma Jean Hunter; grandchildren, Cassye McInnis, Corey Lewis and wife, Brianna, Scott Lewis and wife, Ashley, Elizabeth Njaa, Sarah Njaa and numerous great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2025, in the chapel of Hayes Funeral Home, with Pastor Joshua McDonald officiating. Interment will be at Hayes Grace Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Anthony Cargile, James Harvey, Isidore Martinez, Corey Lewis, Scott Lewis, Scott Beard. Honorary bearers will be Phanon Thibodeaux and Ricky Allen.

Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the funeral home, 10412 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX (409) 925-3501. 

The family would like to give a special thank you to Juanell’s care team, her doctors, Dr. Tonya, Dr. Lewis, Dr. Samman and Dr. Tim; her CNA’s Jessica, Hannah, and Veronica and also Brenda with Allegiance Hospice; RN, Dana; LVN, Johnnie; case manager, Monica; sitters, Lola, Pam, Jodi and Jennifer. They also would like to give a warm thank you to RN, Chirra and LVN, Delorna for saving her son’s life.

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