Nancy Garrett, 83, of Bussey and formerly Oskaloosa, passed away Saturday, May 28, 2022, at her home near Bussey.
Nancy Garrett, daughter of Max and Virginia (Adey) Martin, was born September 22, 1938, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was a 1956 graduate of Oskaloosa High School and then worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Ray. Her next job, as the manager’s assistant to Graham’s Department Store, was the place she met the love of her life, Keith Earl Garrett. Nancy was united in marriage to Keith on July 5, 1959, at the First Church of the Nazarene in Oskaloosa. They made their home in Oskaloosa until Keith was recalled to active duty in October 1961. While he was in the service, they made their home at Lake Huachuca, Arizona. Following his discharge in 1963, the couple returned to Oskaloosa, and Keith resumed his position with Graham’s Department Store. That job moved the couple to Sheldon, Independence, and Clarinda, Iowa, in 1965. In Clarinda, Iowa, they adopted their two children, Kenneth and Sherri. Nancy and Keith returned to Oskaloosa in 1972, and Nancy began working as a clerk at Western Auto. She went on to work at Wal-Mart in Pella and later at the Wal-Mart in Oskaloosa and retired in 1993. Since returning to Oskaloosa, Nancy has been a Central United Methodist Church member. When her children were young, the family enjoyed camping and vacations, and she assisted with Little League and later loved watching her grandchildren’s sporting events. She enjoyed ceramics, crocheting, bird watching, and collecting antiques and porcelain dolls throughout her life.
Her family includes her daughter, Sherri Garrett and her fiancée, Pete Bellinger of Bussey; four grandchildren: Dylan Springer and his fiancée, Marina Flores, Brian Garrett, and Kia (Larry) South and Christopher Whitten; a great-granddaughter, Kinlee Whitten; sisters-in-law, Elaine (Danny) Brown of Oskaloosa, Nadine Garrett of Marion, and Joy Van Amerongen of Mount Pleasant; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Keith, on December 22, 2011; her son, Kenneth Garrett; a grandson, Derek Springer, a brother, Billy Martin; and a half-sister, Marjorie Sanders.
Nancy’s funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 2, 2022, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Leo Freel of the Cross Roads Gospel Church in Knoxville officiating. The burial will be in Bloomfield Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral chapel; the family will greet visitors from 4-6 p.m. Memorials can be made to the Cross Roads Gospel Church in Knoxville.
