Ellen (Dee Dee, Deanie) Guard, was born in Columbia, South Carolina and the family moved to Amarillo, Texas while she was still an infant. She was the oldest of 4 children.

She met her best friend, Christy Gruver in grade school and maintained that relationship for 60 years. Dee Dee attended La Mirada High School, in La Mirada, California and graduated in 1973.

She had a career in data processing for many years. Dee Dee met Rick Guard in 1991 and after a brief courtship, Rick asked Dee Dee to marry him while camping in a tent with his dog Callie. They married on December 31,1993 and were married for 31 years and they were the loves of each other's life.

Dee Dee loved her dogs, (notably Bindi & Bailey), her grandchildren Kyle, Owen & Olivia, her husband, Rick & country music. She loved to dance with Rick and they spent many years on the dance floor together. Dee Dee loved to plan get togethers, whether it was for the holidays, football Sunday, birthdays or just because she felt like it was time for a get together. They left California to continue their life together in Providence, Utah in 2012.

Dee Dee so loved the many friends and neighbors in Utah. But due to her illness, they relocated to Amarillo, Texas in 2022. Amarillo is where friends and family would provide comfort as she battled various ailments for 3 years.

Grandma Dee Dee was so very proud of her three grandchildren, all of whom are in college and that made her so happy. Dee Dee will be remembered for her wonderful smile, infectious laugh and general good-natured disposition. She had quite the following on Facebook as she kept them all amused with her comments and funnies.

More importantly, Dee Dee will be remembered for being a loving sister, mother, grandmother & wife.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Howard and Gladys Kerr; her parents, Lee and Veda Brazell and a brother, Lee Brazell Jr.

Dee Dee is survived by her husband, Rick Guard; daughter, Christy Vandesande and husband Bart of Laguna Beach, California; son, Jeremy Thaxton of Amarillo, Texas; two sisters, Janet Purchase and Connie Couch both of Bullhead, Arizona; nephew, Daniel Thompson of Temecula, California and three beloved grandchildren, Kyle Vandesande, Owen Vandesande and Olivia Vandesande.

She will be so very missed by all who knew and loved her.


In Lieu of Flowers, the family encourages a donation to:
Paws and Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County INC.
PO Box 143
Tucumcari, New Mexico 88401
505-235-4338
https://www.pawsandclawsanimalrescueofquaycounty.org/donate