The Obit

 Janet Garvin made her final transition surrounded by family 1 ½ days short of her 79th birthday on July 7, 2024, after a hard fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Though she spent the majority of her life in Joplin, a brief number of blissful years in Carlsbad and Albuquerque birthed a deep love affair with New Mexico as well. Janet spent her final 17 months in the loving care of the staff at Joplin Gardens and Compassus. Characteristic of Janet, it wasn’t much time before she developed a group of lady friends with whom she lunched in the cafeteria daily until she was no longer able to physically do so. Stylish to the very end, it was no surprise to see a new color of polish on her nails at each visit.

 

Janet was born July 9, 1945 to Virginia (Ginny) and James (Jim) Diles in Joplin. After graduating from Joplin High School, a proud member of the Class of 63, Janet studied at Joplin Junior College. While still in high school, Janet met the love of her life, Phil Garvin. They got married in a fever October 7, 1967 in Carlsbad, NM, spending the rest of their lives together until Phil’s death in March of 2001. Surviving Janet are her daughter Neely Myers, son Tyson Garvin, son-in-law Jefferson Myers, daughter-in-law Tristan Garvin, and the loves of her later life, grandson Sam Myers and granddaughter Reagan Garvin who affectionately referred to her as Gee.

 

Prior to retirement, Janet was co-owner, with husband Phil, of Phil Garvin Insurance (1976-2001), Gringos (1980-2007), and Fat and Happy (1998-2009). In need of a little change, she came out of retirement briefly from 2009-2010 as a hostess at Red Oak Steakhouse in Downstream Casino. She was also proud of her service to Dan Stanley Ford, Joplin, Security Insurance Company, Albuquerque, NM, Bruce Williams Laboratory, Joplin, and Talbot Wire, Neosho, during the years she referred to as “BC”-before children.

 

Additional survivors include Janet’s siblings Jimmy Diles and wife Jeannette, Joyce Cox and husband Stanley, and Jill Bybee, Phil’s brothers and their wives Gary and Karen Garvin and Bob and Dixie Garvin, nieces, nephews, and their spouses and families, Shannan Wren, Missy Henry, Dr Jeffrey Cox, Kristi Barnard, Brooke Simpson, Jette Bybee, Kyle Garvin, Justin Garvin, Gara Lynn Horsley, Jon Wooley, Tod Wooley and special niece-in-law Tina Garvin. In addition to husband Phil and her parents, she was preceded in death by brother-in-law Barry Bybee, nephew Michael Garvin, many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins, and her special canine companions Domino, Fizz Gig, Iasca, Butters, and Daisey. Her sweet “shadow”, powder puff Chinese crested Lucy, was adopted by a big time lover of the breed in Oklahome.

 

To merely say that Janet cared deeply for her community, for the environment, and for children would be an understatement, as she proved with her years of proud, enthusiastic, and generous  civic and charitable service. She was a founding board member of Unity of Joplin, founding board member and former Board President of Wildcat Park Conservation and Audubon Nature Center, and founding board member and former Board President of Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri. She also served on the boards of Angel Guild of Joplin Little Theatre, Ozark Gateway Audubon Society, Goodwill Industries of Tulsa, Ozark Council of GSA, Freeman Foundation, and Joplin Little Theatre. She was a former member of Soroptimist International of Joplin, a lifetime Girl Scouts member, coordinated youth leader for Congressional Awards for U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt, Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Ozark Gateway Audubon Society for dedication to building Wildcat Glades Audubon and Conservation Nature Center, and served a 2 year term for Western Division of State of Missouri Federal Grand Jury Task Force for organized crime.

 

Janet lived her life with verve and moxie. She had a healthy dose of wanderlust having been to all 50 US States and 4 of the 7 continents. Her favorite places were Costa Rica, the American Southwest, and Portugal. A favorite story was that she even climbed the Great Wall of China. She was the consummate entertainer, hosting decades of out-of-town guests, friends and family parties, and several years of fancy dress Oscars parties. When her children were young, her house on Oak Ridge Dr. was THE place to be, and a favorite hangout for their friends. Even into adulthood many of “her kids” called her Mama G. She was a lover of western movies and if there wasn’t a western on the TV, there was always music playing in her house. She adored being under the water with her scuba gear on, collecting antiques, and digging in the dirt. But nothing compared to her love for her children Neely and Tyson, their spouses Jefferson and Tristan, and her grandbabies Sam and Reagan.

 

In honor of her final wishes, Janet was cremated and her ashes will be spread in part with Phil, but primarily in Costa Rica by Neely, Tyson, and their families at a later date. Mom said for years that she hoped to die at 120, scuba diving off the coast of Costa Rica. You may not have made it to 120 years old Mom but we will make sure you make it to Costa Rica! Please join us in celebrating her life Friday afternoon, July 12 at 3 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 1802 W. 26th St., with visitation to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Janet C Garvin Revocable Trust, care of Pinnacle Bank, to be distributed by her children to causes about which Janet was passionate.