Lou E. Garrett, age 85, of Flora, IL died at 5:18 AM on Sunday, July 15, 2012 at Flora Rehab & Health Care Center in Flora.

She was born December 17, 1926 in Hoosier Township, IL to Hubert and Elsie (Lewis) McKnight. She first married Edward Pete Gill in 1947. He later preceded her in death. Her second marriage was to Rex Garrett in 1966. Lou worked for Hancock Funeral Home and later Cardascio Funeral Home as an attendant and also at International Shoe Company. Later, she was a school bus driver. Her memberships included the VFW Auxiliary and Clay County Hospital Auxiliary. Lou loved animals and enjoyed fishing and spending time at Trago Lake.

She is survived by her husband: Rex Garrett of Flora; 2 daughters: Shirley (Jack) Anderson of Xenia, Angela Garrett of Flora; 2 step-daughters: Stacy (Grant) Bowser of Wooster, OH, DeeAnn Christopher of Destin, FL; 2 sisters-in-law: Loyse McKnight of Wisconsin, Frances Morgan of Effingham; 2 grandchildren: Stacy (Darrell) Smith of Xenia, Anthony (Kim) Anderson of Iola; 4 great-grandchildren: Seth and Grant Smith, Jonathan and Miranda Anderson; cousin: Eula Lewis of Bible Grove; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, former husband (Edward Pete Gill), 3 brothers (Murvin, Lewis, and twin brother Lee McKnight), and 4 sisters (Mabel Monical, Dorothy Kutz, Dantzelle Cambron, and Mary Stanford).

A graveside service for Lou Garrett will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Elmwood Cemetery in Flora. There will be no visitation. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to Fur A Good Paws or the Flora Public Library. The arrangements are being handled by Frank & Bright Funeral Home.