AUSTIN L. MILLER
staff writer

OCALA — Twice in a year, 74-year-old widow Anne M. Grove was on the brink of losing her home. And twice, she was spared. It appears she won't be so fortunate this time.

A Marion County Circuit Court judge on Wednesday appointed a guardian to manage Grove's assets and daily needs until the past-due payments on her home are resolved. 

Judge Carven Angel, who presided over the competency hearing for Grove, questioned whether Grove had any living relative who could act as her guardian. But, after a few minutes of discussion, Grove's court-appointed attorney Robert Landt agreed that Carol Preiss of Guardianship & Probate Services, Inc. should be appointed as the woman's guardian.

Now, Landt, Preiss and GMAC, which holds the mortgage on Grove's Silver Meadows North home, will have to determine what to do with that home. Grove is far behind on her mortgage payments.

Preiss has 60 days to make a report of Grove's assets, including a home in New York which is in danger of being sold because of unpaid property taxes, to the court.

Grove was whisked away to an undisclosed assisted living facility following the two-hour hearing.

"It's a sad situation and a tough case, but I think we'll work through this," Landt said.

Teresa Houston, Preiss' attorney, said while Grove will be allowed to visit her home and assist the guardian in evaluating the contents during the 60 days, the chance of her regaining ownership of the home appears to be grim.

"Her financial situation does not look promising at this moment," Houston said. "The home in New York will have to be sold. A suitable arrangement has to be made for her to live in." 

Grove's plight captured the community's attention last year when the Silver Meadows North Homeowners Association foreclosed on her home because she failed to pay her homeowners association dues of about $1,200. Grove, who ignored foreclosure papers, was eventually evicted by deputies and taken to jail.

Sheriff Ed Dean learned of her situation several days later, ordered her released and helped broker a deal to get Grove's home back. She subsequently fell behind on her mortgage payments and faced another foreclosure.

Carol Petersen, Grove's niece who lives in Jupiter, is not pleased with what is going on with her aunt.

"I feel terrible about this because it looks like she's going to lose what she and her husband had worked hard for," said Petersen. "Nobody told me about this hearing."

In a last ditch effort to help her, the state sought the services of Guardianship and Probate Services, Inc. in Weirsdale. The agency became the emergency temporary guardian for Grove, and sought legal counsel from Landt.

To delay the foreclosure, Landt filed a motion to stop the sale of the home until Grove could be evaluated to determine her competency to handle her own financial matters.

Several days before Grove's home was slated to be sold on the steps of the courthouse on April 2, GMAC abruptly canceled the sale, agreeing with Grove's attorney.

Austin L. Miller can be reached at [email protected] or 867-4128.