Janet Guy-Harper

Janet Myrleen Guy-Harper (Porter), 84, passed from this life into eternal rest at the Nowata Nursing Center on the afternoon of April 2, 2023. Janet was born on February 15, 1939, in Nowata, Oklahoma, to Hobart “Myrl” Porter and Thelma Jeen (Reed) Porter.

Janet spent her early years in Oklahoma, graduating from Nowata High School.  Janet married Doug Guy on December 25, 1956. She then moved to Whidbey Island, Washington, after her first marriage. She traveled extensively during her first marriage due to her husband’s Navy career. She lived in numerous locations including Trinidad, the West Indies, and Japan.  Janet married her second husband, Henry Harper, in Sacramento, California, on February 14, 1986. They were together until his passing in 1990.

Janet began working with the California State Employment office in 1969. In 1981, she started working for the United States Government and worked there until 1995, when the regional office closed and reinstated with the State of California. She excelled in her positions at work and quickly was promoted at each position she took. She enjoyed working and was known to go above and beyond in the workplace. In 2001, Janet retired and returned to Nowata to care for her father, who was ill.

Janet was a one-of-a-kind person and was a very warm and accepting person. She got along with anyone and everyone. Janet truly loved her family and friends and enjoyed spending time with them. She was all about her children and gave everything to her family. She loved God. She will be missed by all that knew her.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents: Myrl and Thelma Porter; her aunts and uncles: Cecil and Katie Porter and Dave and Mary Porter; and her cousins: Don Porter and Judy Parrett.

Those left to cherish the memory of a wonderful woman include her children: Douglas Guy of Nowata, OK; Myrl Guy of Nowata, OK; Dawn Buckley and husband, Don; of Chico, CA; and John Upchurch of Seattle, WA; her grandchildren: Kelsey Buckley of Chico, CA; Joe Buckley of Chico, CA; and Jeramiah Upchurch of Ramona, OK; her step-grandson: Daniel Fleming of Ramona, OK; her great-granddaughters: Grace Mackenzie Robinson of Chico, CA and Olivia Jean Robinson of Chico, CA; her daughter-in-law: Sandra Hamil-Upchurch of Ramona, OK; her cousins: Ronda Wintjen and husband, Ron of Nowata, OK; Linda Pearsall of Nowata, OK; Jamie Weaver of Ramona, OK; Betty Lawrence of Nowata, OK; Jeff Lawrence of Nowata, OK; Greg Lawrence of Nowata, OK; Pat Lawrence of Nowata, OK; Jay Stewart of Nowata, OK; and Rodger Stewart of Bartlesville, OK, along with other family members and a host of friends.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, April 7, 2023, at the Benjamin Funeral Service Chapel from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Graveside funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 10:00 am at the Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery. Funeral arrangements have been trusted by the caring staff of Benjamin Funeral Service. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemoriesnowata.com.