 HARPHAM, HELEN J. age 100, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 29, 2013. At age 98 she was still driving her car (without incident), traveling with her daughter visiting grandsons and granddaughter. Even as her physical health declined her indomitable spirit, positive attitude and winning smile were always with her. She will be remembered for her enthusiasm and energy in that little 5 ft. 2" frame, always running circles around everyone. She was born September 8, 1912 on a homestead in Buffalo, South Dakota. She led a long and blessed life and loved working. At age 12 her family moved to Washington state. Getting her "Beauty operator" license at age 17 she worked as a manicurist and hairdresser in Tacoma, Washington, where she married Garland Blakemore and had a daughter, Gayliene. World War II brought her to San Diego, California and work at Rohr Aircraft Plant. Later she worked for five years as a LPN. In 1952 she married Clarence Harpham and together they raised his daughter, Caroline and became ardent rock hounds and members of the San Diego Lapidary Society which included many road trips to California deserts and other states. Retiring in 1965 they moved onto their ten acres in Rogue River, Oregon where she lived for the next 30 yrs. They built a home, had a big garden and fruit trees, and became members of the local Grange. She won many blue ribbons for her canned foods and the Grand Champion ribbon for her crab apple wine. Even here she found jobs for her and Clarence working on a gladiola flower and bulb farm and became best friends with the owners. Clarence passed away in 1991 and she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1995. She took up quilting with her daughter Gayliene and together they made many beautiful quilts and were members of Pinon Quilters and Over the Mountain Quilt Guild in Edgewood, New Mexico. Again she found a job, this time volunteering at the Storehouse. All who knew her were charmed by her beautiful smile and twinkling eyes. She is survived by her daughters, Gayliene Guarneros of Albuquerque and Caroline and husband Charlie Maberry of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren, Jeniece and husband Don Shafer of Ft. Worth, Texas, Rich and Jeanne Guarneros of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Brian and wife Shannon of Evergreen, Colorado, Martin Guarneros of Denver, Colorado; great-grandchildren, Kristen and husband Tim Keller of Lakewood, Colorado, Kerryn and husband Dustin Pulciani, Kileigh Guarneros of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Kevin Guarneros of San Francisco, California, Teraisa Guarneros of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Josephine Guarneros of Evergreen, Colorado, Angelica Guarneros, Adam Guarneros and their mother Anne Quirk of Fargo, North Dakota; and great-great-grandchildren, Reagin and Madison Pulciani of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Helen was lovingly cared for by Francine & all the Staff at Bellamah House for assisted living, for which we will always be grateful. A memorial Celebration of Life will be held at the Albuquerque Meadows Mobile Home Park Clubhouse at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August. 3, 2013, located at I-25 and San Antonio, 7112 Pan American Frontage Road. Final interment will be in Medford, Oregon.
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