Juanita Garner

Juanita Ilene Garner (nee Kelso) was born on September 10, 1927 in Whittemore, Iowa. She passed away on September 21, 2025 at the age of 98. Nita was the youngest child of Amelia "Mollie" Behrends and James "Jim" Kelso.

Nita grew up on the family farm in Whittemore. She graduated from Whittemore Academy at the age of 16 and moved to Davenport, Iowa, where she would soon enroll in St. Luke's Nursing School. She graduated with her nursing degree the week of her 21st birthday in 1948. Shortly after, she would meet her future husband, Dr. George L. Garner. They were married on May 12, 1951. The two lived in Watertown, New Jersey while George served in the army and they would later settle in Somerset, Kentucky where George operated a successful chiropractic office and Nita worked as a nurse.

After George's untimely death in January 1990, Nita reconnected with her grade school sweetheart, Dean Elbert. The two were married in August 1991 and they were married for 13 years until Dean's death in 2004.

Nita is survived by her three children and their spouses; Mike & (Norma) Garner, Laura & (Richard) Wright, Molly & (David) Mounce; grandchildren, Jenny & (Brent) Duell, Missy & (Jeremy) Johnson, Jessica & (Jordan) Jones, Christin Velez, Garner Mounce; great-grandchildren, Brooke Duell, Travis Duell, Emma Ashlock, Hailey Johnson, Hudson Jones, and Nora Smith.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mollie and Jim Kelso; her siblings, Jim Kelso, Catherine Ohland, Mary Hughes, and Maurice Kelso; her husbands, Dr. George L. Garner, and Dean M. Elbert.

A funeral service will be held at 4 PM Friday, September 26, 2025 at the chapel of Pulaski Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends after 3 PM Friday, September 26, 2025 until time for services.

The family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Hospice of Lake Cumberland.

The family would like to thank the staff of Somerset Nursing & Rehab for their dedication in caring for our mother.

Pulaski Funeral Home is honored to assist the family with arrangements.