Joan Lenore Arehart

Joan Lenore Arehart St. Louis Joan Lenore Arehart, aged 74, died peacefully surrounded by her many loved ones at the home of her sister, Judy Eyde, on Monday, January 18, 2010. She was a loving sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend who touched the lives of many with her humor, warmth, and wisdom. Jo was born in Lansing, Michigan where she resided until she got married to Clifton Arehart. Shortly after they married, they moved to Chicago, Illinois. It was there that they began raising their three children, Marta, Jeff, and Kim. In the late 1960's, she moved back to Michigan to help her husband realize his lifelong dream of owning his own pharmacy. In St. Louis, they opened Arehart's Pharmacy where they worked together side by side for several years. Additionally, she became involved in the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce. Her continued interest in retail brought her back to Lansing to work, where she managed the First Down. She finished her career as a property manager in the Lansing area. Mom had many and varied hobbies, but nothing gave her greater pleasure than spending time with her grandchildren, nieces and nephew, and many great-nieces and nephews. Whether it was going to their various sporting events to cheer them on, creating scavenger hunts, or scaring them with the "claw", Nane/Auntie Jo loved her time spent with them all. When she wasn't busy spoiling everyone, she loved to entertain family and friends with her gourmet cooking, tend to her flower gardens, read, and travel. She traveled extensively in Europe and throughout the United States with her husband. Our mother was a true nurturer, not only to the people she loved but also creatures of the four-legged variety. Throughout her life, she cared for a variety of cats and dogs. She was known as someone with a tender heart and many a stray was brought to her doorstep. Whether it was a litter of motherless raccoons or an unwanted pet, she had a special place in her heart for them all. Mom was preceded in death by her husband, Clifton J. Arehart, the love of her life, and her father and mother, George and Eleanor Hendy. She is survived by her children, Marta (Steve) Moyer, Jeff (Jeanne) Arehart, and Kim Post (Joe Sherrick); her sister, Judy (Sam) Eyde; and her grandchildren, Ashley Post, Lynnie (Andrew) Stewart, Ryan and Taylor Moyer, C.J. and Grant Arehart. Seven very special nieces and nephews and eight great-nieces and nephews were dear to her heart, and they will miss their Auntie Jo. Our mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend will live in our hearts forever, and she will be missed in more ways than we can count. But we like to believe "Perhaps they are not the stars but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pour through and shine down upon us to let us know they are happy." Private memorial services will be held at United First Methodist Church in St. Louis on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Memorial contributions may be made to Gratiot Animal Shelter, Capital Area Humane Society, and Sparrow Home Hospice. Arrangements by Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel