At the age of 69,Thelene Arris Guiden went to be with her  Lord, on March 31, 2026 at 1:19 PM in Grove City, Ohio.
Thelene was the daughter of Fred Henry and Navajean Darnerlla (Jackson) Guiden. She was born on June 26, 1956 at the Methodist Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri.

In our mother's 9 month pregnancy, on a trip to Atchison Kansas to visit relatives, the family's car was hit by a drunk driver which left Thel with a brain injury. The doctors did surgery to relieve pressure to the brain, unfortunately the damage couldn't be repaired and Thel was diagnosed with an impaired nerve in her brain. This resulted in her being mentally handicapped. When she was still young, she began having seizures, which resulted in the need for her to be prescribed medication.

Her parents were told she would never walk, be able to care for herself or talk. She would be in a vegetative state. Her father didn't believe this so he built a box, which he created, for her to begin to stand in every day when she was old enough to strengthen her legs and her sisters talked and played with her every day.

When her oldest niece, Allison, became older, she referred to her aunt as my Thel. Allison enjoyed making her laugh and they had a lot of fun together. Allison would bring her stuffed animals that Thel loved. There were times when they would dance together and do the robot. Allison didn't treat her any different than her other aunties.

For the majority of her formative years, she resided at home with her family. A social worker working with Thel's family, informed them of a program at the Albany Regional Diagnostic Center in Albany Missouri that would take her into their residential program to learn to become as self-sufficient as possible. Her family was concerned since Thel had never been away from home.  There were some preliminary procedures that had to be processed before Thel could be accepted into the program. She was accepted and Thel entered the program. She was there for several months and began to progress. She was taught to take care of personal needs, her walking had improved and physical therapyassisted her more at the center. She was even taught some sign language to help her better communicate with her family.
When Thel returned home she was a changed person. She smiled more, interacted with her family more and would even pick out what clothes she wanted to wear. She even began to interact with her sister's friends when they came to visit. Thel never met a stranger.

Thel experienced several life changes which she had to adapt to. Her beloved father passing, two sisters leaving home and then the move to Grove City Ohio with her mother and remaining sister.

Thel had a wonderful life and was surrounded by several individuals who loved her, and had an opportunity to enjoy the hobbies she developed.

Thel was preceded in death by her parents Fred Henry & Navajean Guiden, maternal grandparents Ambrose &Rowena Jackson, fraternal twins brother and sister Brett & Bretina, uncle Ambrose Jackson Jr. and aunt Maureen Nave.

Thel is survived by her sister Regina (Everett) Sanders of Grove City Ohio, sisters Kim Guiden of Grove City Ohio, Leechia Jones of Savannah, Missouri, nieces Allison (Scott) Smith St. Petersburg Florida, Heather Jones Independence Missouri, aunt Sammye Jackson Omaha Nebraska, and numerous cousins and friends.

The family requests your thoughts and prayers. You may choose to make a donation to a charity of your choice in remembrance of Thelene Guiden. Family will receive friends from 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM on May 30th, 2026 at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 10:00 AM. Inurnment at Ashland Cemetery following the service.

Thank You for your thoughts and prayers.