Carol Nancy (LaFave) McGuire
Carol Nancy (LaFave) McGuire, a devoted nurse, loving wife, mother, and advocate for cancer patients, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family on March 21, 2025. She was 83 years old.
Born on September 10, 1941, in Syracuse, New York, Carol grew up in the Adirondacks in the Village of Tupper Lake, where she was raised in a family that cherished music. She graduated from Tupper Lake High School in 1959, where her yearbook said “She worked with patience, which means almost power,” foreshadowing her lifelong dedication to nursing and helping others.
After graduating from high school, she pursued her passion for nursing, earning her degree from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Watertown in 1962.
Carol lived a life of adventure and service. She married her first husband, with whom she had four sons, and as a military wife, she traveled the world. During her husband’s service in Vietnam, she worked as a registered nurse at an Army hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.
Always dedicated to learning, she later earned a Bachelor of Science from South Dakota State University and a Master’s degree in Oncology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She became the first certified oncology nurse in South Dakota, dedicating her career to helping cancer patients.
In 1990, Carol found love again and married Mike McGuire at Sunlight Mountain, Colorado, a place that became a cherished annual retreat. The couple settled in Durango, Colorado, where Carol worked as a full-time oncology nurse at the Durango Cancer Center.
After retiring in 2005, she continued her dedication by volunteering as a nurse specialist and helped establish the non-profit Durango Cancer Coalition, which raised funds for individuals battling cancer. She remained active with the organization until 2024.
Beyond her career, Carol embraced life with enthusiasm and a love for the outdoors. She was an avid fisherman, spending summer days with Mike on their float house in Sitka, Alaska. She loved skiing, birding, camping by lakes near their home with friends, and gardening. She took great pride in preserving food through canning and enjoyed cooking hearty Irish meals for gatherings with loved ones. Carol had a deep appreciation for nature, finding joy in every season and sharing her passions with those around her.
Carol is survived by her loving husband, Mike McGuire, and four sons and their families: Jim Fleming (Jodi), Paul Fleming (Stephanie), John Fleming, and Michael Fleming (Sharon). She is also survived by her two stepchildren, Dr. Tamara McGuire and Dan McGuire (Liz). Carol was a proud grandmother to five grandchildren—Brandon Fleming (Megan), Emily Klinger (Riccardo), Carmen Fleming, Elliott Gatewood and Oliver Gatewood and a great-grandmother to Nolan Fleming. She is also survived by her sister, Joanne Jones-Russell, sister-in-law Pat Cunningham, and brother-in-law Mike O’Hara, along with several nieces and nephews. She leaves behind two beloved dogs, Murphy and Lily, who brought her great companionship. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Florence and Leo LaFave, and her sister, Colleen O’Hara.
Carol will be remembered for her kindness, adventurous spirit, and unwavering dedication to family, friends, and the many people she helped throughout her life. Her legacy of compassion, love, and service will live on in the countless lives she touched.
A service was held at St. Columba Catholic Church, Durango, Colorado, with interment to follow at the Black Hills National Cemetery in South Dakota. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Rotary International or the Disabled American Veterans in Carol’s memory.