Ann Wilson

(From Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home)

Elizabeth Ann Wilson passed peacefully early Thanksgiving morning with her children at her side. “Ann” was taken from this world due to complications from heart surgery.

She was born in Joplin on September 5, 1949 and grew up on a farm in Sarcoxie, MO with her loving brothers Keith and Stanley. A graduate of Sarcoxie High School and Missouri Southern, family and friends will remember her kind heart, her tough spirit, and her motherly love. She was often looked to for solving problems and giving advice. 

Ann was always up for an adventure, whether it was tackling traffic on her drives into Chicago to visit her daughter Tiffany, camping in national parks where her daughter Tara worked as a ranger, or traveling to music festivals to listen to her son-in-law Jon perform. She spent every day this past year entertaining her first grandson, Thain, making him laugh like only a grandma could. 

Ann loved a good thrift store and garage sale, collecting interesting & rare objects as a hobby. She also had a love for live music and dancing. An educator in local school districts for over 30 years, Ann taught grades pre-K to 12. Everywhere she went in town she would run into former students.

Ann is survived by daughters Tiffany Wilson (Jonathan) and Tara Wilson-Kurz (Seth); grandson Thain; brother Keith Garber (Katrina); aunt Laura Kaylor; cousins Pam Barngrover (Brian) and Alan Kaylor (Gail); nieces Karen Golding (Mikel) and Dr. Sarah Beers (Geoffrey), along with many close friends who she considered family.

Embracing Ann on the other side are her mother & father, Kathleen and George Garber, brother Stanley Garber, Granny Edna Garber, uncle Loren Kaylor and many other close family, friends, and pets.

Per Ann’s wishes, no visitation or funeral will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Bluegrass Ambassadors, continuing Ann’s passion for music and educating children. https://bluegrassambassadors.org/donate.

Cremation arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home in Sarcoxie, Missouri.