La Juana Lee Thornton O'Hare

Mrs. La Juana Lee Thornton O'Hare passed away peacefully surrounded by love on July 14, 2024, in Teague, Texas. She was born July 12, 1971, in Wortham, Texas to Paul Keith and Mary Ann Thornton. 

She was an only child; however, her friends and cousins would come over and stay with her, so she was not alone much. Her cousin Kevin Nichols lived next door and they grew up like siblings, playing in the dirt, playing with monster trucks, riding go carts, shooting guns and in the end, both loved jeeps! 

La Juana enjoyed learning about guns from her dad when he was home from working in the oil fields in Texas, Louisiana and South America. She spoke about how she was “an oilfield brat” and “a little spoiled”. She always remembered her dad’s saying to her, “A little time and a few kind words.” He taught her the importance of how to treat others. Her mother’s nickname for her was “Baby Girl”, no matter her age. She knew her mother was always just a call away. She was thoroughly grateful to her parents for taking such good care of her and making sure she had the items she needed. She always had pets, especially dachshunds, she loved them all. 

Her favorite color was purple, and she enjoyed woodworking crafts as well as printing T-shirts. Music was a big part of her life. Her favorite music was 80’s rock, which included Metallica and Joan Jet. Another passion she enjoyed was driving jeeps, she loved giving them special names, such as Marie Lavo. She had become a member of several jeep clubs as well.

La Juana was a graduate of Mexia High School and went on to work at CJ’s Pawn Shop for 28 years, where she was in sales and the bookkeeper. For the past eight years, she has been employed with the Heart of Texas MHMR in Mexia, Texas. 

She is survived by her mother and stepfather Mary Ann Thornton and David Dunkin; her husband, Kelly O'Hare; In-laws, Dan and Linda (O’Hare) Louis, Cliff and Becky Lasseter; daughter, Candace Renae Carroll and bonus daughters, Rachel O’Hare and Andrea O’Hare; grandchildren, Ada Carren Dorsey, Lacey O’Hare, Trevor Parker, Weston Parker, Alexis Garay, Aiden O’Hare and Isabella Newsom; nieces, Sara and Stacey Masters as well as many other nieces, nephews and cousins. Special friends Michelle Lee Taylor Lawless, Lisa Guest Ferguson and Debbie Leago. Special family friends, The Criders’- Bob, Pam, Sara, Sunday; Linda Thornton, Larry and Debbie Fulmer and Debra Farris. 

She is preceded in death by her father Paul Thornton, and bonus daughters, Chelsea Ralston and Kelly Paige O’Hare. 

La Juana has battled cancer since being diagnosed in 2019 with pancreatic cancer, and again in 2020 with lung cancer. She never let the cancer win. She was insistent, even in death, she killed the cancer. She and her family would like to thank the Solaris Hospice, especially Leslie, her caseworker and her work family at HOT MHMR. 

Services for Mrs. O'Hare are planned for Thursday, July 18, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Mexia, Texas with burial to follow at the Tehuacana Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.