Jean Erma Garber

June 15, 1927 - May 24, 2020

Jean Erma Garber, 92, of Bethalto, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at Cedarhurst of Edwardsville. She was born on June 15, 1927, the daughter of Martha and Aubra (Jack) Johnston, in Mt. Pleasant, Missouri. She married Thomas I. Garber on February 27, 1946. He preceded her in death on October 18, 1987. Jean graduated from Eldon High School in 1944. She worked for the Illinois School Bus Company in Crestwood, Illinois for 35 years. She worked her way up from driving a bus, to dispatcher, to becoming the general manager. After her retirement, she moved to Gravois Mills, Missouri, where she was an active member and volunteer at the West Lake Christian Church in Laurie, Missouri. She loved sewing and doing crafts and she enjoyed participating in various activities with the Red Hat Society. She adored cats and had several throughout her lifetime. She especially loved Bootsie, Puff, Muffin, Angel and Honey Bunch. She was best known as GiGi. Spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren was her favorite pastime. She is survived by two children, Dr. Sandra J. Wilson of Bethalto and Susan D. (Robert) Quirk of Posen, IL; ten grandchildren, Justin (Cori) Wilson of Glen Carbon, IL, Nathan (Erica) Wilson of Bethalto, IL, Kyle (Rosemary) Wilson of Montrose, CA, Cara (Philip) Weiss of Glen Carbon, IL, Joseph (Jamie) Quirk of Burbonnais, IL, Amy Quirk of Posen, IL, Tricia Quirk (Tony Seals) of Midlothian, IL, Sarah (Troy) Spencer of Midlothian, IL, Heather (Daniel) Kotnour of Oak Forest, IL, and Thomas Garber of Oak Forest, IL; fifteen great-grandchildren, Avery, Xavier, Tyler, Reese and Samuel Wilson, Philip and Lindley Weiss, Joshua, Brianna, Gage, and Declan Quirk, Alyssa Seals, Brandon, Anthony, and Abigail Spencer, Alek Kotnour; one great-great grandchild, Keelan Quirk; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Garber of Sedalia, Missouri and several special nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Tom, son and daughter-in-law, Thomas E. and Maureen Garber, grandson Steven P. Quirk, and son-in-law George D. Wilson, great-grandson, Nathaniel Quirk and her sisters, Dorothy Able, Mary Lee Hawken and Virginia Crane Flessa. We would like to thank all the caretakers and staff at Cedarhurst Memory Care in Edwardsville for the amazing care and love they shared with our GiGi. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 27th, at the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home in Versailles with Pastor Kelly Caldwell officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow in the Hopewell Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Catty Shack (kitten rescue), 154 Allen Avenue, Hamel IL 62046 or The Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.