Cleda Jo Garrett

Cleda Jo (Hess) Garrett, 77, went home to be with her Heavenly Father and her beloved daughter, Luann Elayne Garrett, on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on November 26, 1948, in Rockport, Indiana, Cleda was the daughter of the late Casper “Cap” Hess and Cloweda (Hagan) Little.

Cleda was a member of the first graduating class of South Spencer High School in 1966. She later attended Lockyear Business College in Evansville, Indiana, where she earned her degree as an executive assistant. During the 1980s, Cleda dedicated many years of service to her community while working at Rockport City Hall as the Assistant Clerk-Treasurer.

On October 21, 1967, she married the love of her life, Ron Garrett, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Rockport, Indiana. Together they shared more than 58 years of marriage, building a life centered on faith, love, and family.

Cleda devoted her life to her family and found her greatest joy in caring for those she loved. She treasured time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandson. In addition to her family, she enjoyed baking and decorating cakes, creating beautiful wreaths, and playing BINGO.

In addition to her daughter and her parents, Cleda was preceded in death by her stepfather, Richard Little; her parents-in-law, Paul and Evelyn Garrett; her sisters, Joyce (Ronald) Waddell and Donna (Larry) Allen; and her former brother-in-law, Denny Green.

She is survived by her loving husband of 58½ years, Ron Garrett; her daughter, Rhonda (O'Neal) Chesnut; grandchildren, Matilynn (Henry) Warsinsky, Sydney Young, Noah (Ali) Chesnut, Jacob Chesnut, and Lily Chesnut; great-grandchild, Nyle Warsinsky; sister, Vicki (Bill) Adkisson; sister-in-law, Patricia (Clark) Burton; several nieces and nephews; and other surviving family, Jessica (Mark) Hoehler, Lynnzi (Greg) Bader, and Garrett (Shelby) Hoehler

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Gospel Mission Church, 513 Elm Street, Rockport, Indiana. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Rockport. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Condolences may be left at zoercher-gillickfuneralhome.com.

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