Juanda DeShazer

December 16, 1923 – June 8, 2020

Juanda Lee DeShazer's cremated remains were interred at Hardy Oak Cemetery, near McLouth, Kansas, on June 8, 2023. This date is the third anniversary of her death, in the hundredth year following her birth. Juanda's grave is beside that of her cherished husband, Frank Kimball Scott, and surrounded by her relatives of the DeShazer, Thompson, Gibbons, Howard, Hamilton, and other families.

Juanda's grandparents and ancestors lived in the Lawrence and McLouth, Kansas area. Juanda, herself, was born in California and lived there most of her life, also residing for shorter periods in Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Nevada, and Missouri.

During the 97 years of her life, Juanda was influenced by her time's social history: She was born five years after WWI's armistice, ‘the war to end all wars’; yet, as she reached adulthood, totalitarian regimes were oppressing their populations, and governments moved toward WWII. She was born three years after ratification of women's right-to-vote and, during her life, saw affirmation of women's financial and medical rights. As a child and as an adult, she witnessed mistreatment and displacement of racial minorities, and saw little change to a human tendency toward prejudice and bigotry. She grew up during California boom times and Great Depression poverty. Juanda's long life brought her a wide view.

Juanda's experience made her sensitive to community connection and fairness; cultivated her distaste for absolutist behavior from political leaders and individuals; and developed her compassion for those oppressed by social policy and inequity.

Juanda lived actively, with an interest in personal growth: learning to paint, writing her thoughts and recollections, cultivating her views of ethical behavior, working with community groups. During a life that began tragically, with her mother's death, Juanda moved toward joy.

She traveled widely and she achieved her personal goals to transit the Panama Canal, sail to Hawaii for her 85th birthday, cross the U.S.A. by camper van, visit the Holy Land, and to go on other journeys.

Juanda was preceded in death by her parents, Myrtle Ruth (Thompson) DeShazer and Roy Burton DeShazer, and her sister, Marjorie Jean DeShazer, and Juanda spoke of looking forward to joining them again.

Juanda Lee De Shazer is remembered by her immediate family, with appreciation for her love: Son Eric and his sons, Josh and Ben, and their mother, Ellen, and Josh's sons Diego and Desmond, and Ben's daughter Nalia and her mother Natalie; daughter Patricia and her son, Tim, and his wife, Paula, and his daughter Padma; son Jon and his sons Phil, Sam, and Greg. 

Juanda appreciated and loved the children of her deceased sister, Juanda's nieces and nephews, and always was interested in them and enjoyed the special occasions of visiting with them. Juanda felt strong connection with her relatives in the Midwest.  Juanda spoke with affection for all her friends in Southern California and often spoke of her Vietnam family, with whom she was friends as they moved to the U.S.A.

Juanda formed friendships wherever she was, and often talked on the phone with people who lived where she had once resided, in San Diego County, Sonoma County, Kern County, and Humboldt County, California, and other places.

In commemoration of Juanda and her life, and with regard for Juanda's lifelong respect for loyalty, love, and principled action, Juanda's family asks that you vote, a right she exercised, and that you send communications: In memory of Juanda, send a word of appreciation to people about whom you care; and send a letter of complaint to an entity that has failed to do its duty.