Lois Garnett

Lois Garnett, mother of Sandra Williams and Renee Rose of Long Beach and Lori Roeper of Cape Cod - and son Jerry Spray, passed away this Tuesday surrounded by her loving family and memories beyond measure. She will be joining her beloved husband, Donald Garnett and her son Jerry in heaven.

Lois always said – “If you don’t have a sense of humor – you have no sense at all”.  She took that way of always looking for the positive side of life and focused on family, faith, friends and her lifelong love of God’s animal friends.

Her family was the constant in her life. She was the eldest daughter of fourteen children and had four children of her own and four step children. From Michigan to Mississippi, Massachusetts to Texas and the Carolinas and Florida - she shared her life with those she loved.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her son; her parents, Leo Marvin Fish and Mary Magdeline Rouchleau; her siblings, Harold Fish, Bobbie Fish, Michael Fish, Donna Simmons, Marvin Fish, Ronald Fish, Sue Deroshea, and Faye Engels; and a granddaughter, Jessica Spray.

She is survived by her children, Lori Roeper (Robert), Renee Rose (James), and Sandra Williams; her grandchildren, Jeremy Spray, Johnathan Rose, Derek Szymanski, and Dalton Williams and her great-grandson, Bentley Edgerton; her step-children, Sherri Stringfield, Cyndi Shelton, Debbie Kennedy, and Richard Garnett; and grandchildren Angela, April, Jason and Kyle; and her siblings Janet Kester, Fern Genengels, Betty Hovey, Dorothy Green, and Rita Sweeney.

Her faith was the bedrock of her ability to smile at any situation. As a devoted member of St. Thomas Parish - she took the messages she learned in church and put them into practice in her daily life.

Friends were everything to her. From those who brought her communion at home when she couldn’t be at church and neighbors who gave a helping hand – to the incredible friendship provided by those who helped her in her final years.

And then there were all her four legged indoor and outdoor friends. Lois had a sense of compassion and responsibility for her “friends” that made any stray that happened to be near her home the winner of the animal lottery. She always felt that her furry friends gave her more than she ever could give them.

While the earth is a little less bright today – we know that this lovely and loving person is in heaven watching over us and surrounded by all of those she loved and cared for. And with certainty – she has a smile on her face and that beautiful glint in her eye. We love you and will forever.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue, 210 Island View, Long Beach, MS 39560 or make a donation to that fund at any Hancock Bank branch or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the 7th Floor staff, cystoscopy department, and Dr’s Pakron, Mullins, Shannon, and their staffs for the care and concern for Mrs. Garnett.

Visitation will be on Friday, December 17, 2021 from 12 – 1 pm at the Riemann Family Funeral Home, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach.  The funeral service will be at 1 pm in the funeral home chapel.  Entombment will be in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, Long Beach, is serving the family and online condolences may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com