Josephine Garreau

Josephine (Jody) Garreau
February 3, 1949 – June 20, 2024
Josephine Garreau entered into eternal rest on June 20, 2024 surrounded by her loved ones.
Josephine was born on February 3, 1949 to Billy Munro and Larena Lea (Blakely) Campbell in Chillicothe, Missouri. Her parents nicknamed her "Jody" which is what her friends and family called her throughout her life. Jody met the love of her life, LLoyd Garreau, on a blind date during her senior year of college. They married on July 8, 1972, at Saint Columban Catholic Church in Chillicothe, and the following year they celebrated the birth of their awesome son, Meddie Joseph.
During her youth, Jody enjoyed being outdoors, reading, and making desserts. After graduating from Chillicothe High School in 1967, she enrolled at Northwest Missouri State University (NMSU) where she subsequently graduated with honors earning a Bachelor of Art degree in Sociology and Psychology. Jody would go on to use her degree to serve the needs of others throughout her life.
After graduating from NWMSU, Josephine began her career at the Chillicothe Department of Social in the Family Support Division where she worked primarily with single parents and provided child welfare services. When she and her family moved to Maryville and Houston, Missouri, Jody continued to provide similar social services in those communities.
When the family was called upon to move to Seoul, South Korea, Jody served families there by managing a daycare center at the US Army Yongsan Garrison and then went on to work as a child welfare social service worker for the Garrison's Army Community Services. During her time in Seoul, Jody was instrumental in developing a children's advocacy program which was adopted and implemented by the Garrison and Eighth Army. Upon returning to the USA, Jody worked for Army Community Services at Fort Bliss, Texas where she assisted arriving soldiers and their families with their family and social service needs as well as taught a fiscal responsibility class to recent US Army recruits.
Wanting to be back in the Midwest and closer to family and friends, the family moved to the Saint Louis area where Jody worked for the VA hospitals, initially providing services to individuals with substance use disorders at a methadone clinic, before retiring from her final position with the VA as a social worker to homeless Veterans. Throughout her life's service to others, Jody was always liked and respected and those she worked with at the John Cochran VA hospital, will affectionately remember her as "Ms. Jody."
Upon her retirement, Jody was excited to enjoy her time as "Grandma Jojo," spending much of her time with grandkids Reese and Logan. Grandma and Reese especially enjoyed finger painting, doing crafts, and playing with her dog "Teddy Bear," and, along with help from her sister Willie, Jody helped Reese learn to read, write, and do mathematics. Of being a grandma, Jody said "it was the best job a person can have."
Jody is survived by her husband, LLoyd; her son, Meddie (Kelly) Garreau; her sisters, Willa Lea Grasty and Melinda Louise (Keith) Konicy; her brother Frank (Julie Still) Campbell; her brother-in-law, Steve Nigus; and three grandchildren, Josh Vogel, Logan Wilson, and Reese Garreau.
Jody was predeceased by her parents as well as sister, Annabelle Nigus and brother-in-law Albert Grasty. We are grateful to know that Albert, Annabelle and Jody's souls are now dancing in heaven.
Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. 27 July 024. Father Tom Wissler will preside over the mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 7701 State Rte N, Dardenne Prairie, Mo 63368. The visitation and celebration of Jody's life will start at 11: a.m. in the church hall.