Connie Joe Hoyt Garrett, age 84 of Salem, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in her home on Saturday, November 7, 2020.
Connie was born in 1936 to Charles “Chub” and Hazel Linnie (Hays) Hoyt. She had two brothers, Robert “Bob” Hoyt and William “Jack” Hoyt, and a sister Loretta Barnett who all preceded her in death.
She married Darrell Cecil Garrett in 1966 and they lived in Morton, IL. Darrell Preceded her in death in 1976, and she never remarried.
Connie returned to Kinmundy after the death of her husband and raised her daughters. She was involved in many community activities. She worked for Bill Jones at Kinmundy Savings and Loan/ Insurance, Dutch Linton’s Ambulance Service, was an active member of Kinmundy Lions Club, helped to coordinate and coach Kinmundy’s first girl’s fastpitch softball team, a member of Kinmundy- Alma School Board, and a member of Isaac Hull Chapter National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution.
When the Citicorp office in Kinmundy was shut down she transferred to St. Louis and eventually worked for Mark Twain Banks and later retired from the United States Department of Agriculture.
She moved back to Salem, Illinois after her retirement to spend more time with her grandsons, Cody, Kyle, and Cade, and eventually their children as well.
She was very athletic when she was younger and has many trophies for softball and bowling. She always was a person that liked to stay busy and after retirement worked at Salem Walmart as a greeter. She loved animals especially dogs, working in her yard and watching the deer in her neighborhood, spending time with and watching her children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren in any sport they participated in until her health no longer permitted.
She is survived by her children, Sherri Kothe and husband Terry of Chester and Terrie Rose of Salem; grandchildren, Cody Rose and wife Crea of Centralia, Cade Rose and wife Karey of Salem, Kyle Rose and Mikayela Spencer of Salem, 7 great-grandchildren, Ayden, Ashton, Olivia, Grayce, Lukas, Gabriel, and Axton.
Private family services will be held. If you wish to honor her memory, memorials can be made to any dog rescue or animal shelter of your choice and can be left at the Crouse Funeral Home in Salem, who is assisting the family with arrangements.
