Johnnie (Joni) Magdalene Stoutt Gary unexpectedly went to be with the Lord on April 30, 2019. Joni was born November 15, 1941 in Alcoa, Tennessee to John MacDonald Beets and ULela Smith Beets. She graduated from Everett High School.
She married Bobby Howard Stoutt in 1960 and after the birth of their first daughter, they relocated to Oak Ridge, Tennessee where Bobby worked for Union Carbide. The family became members of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, where Joni was a devoted member and held numerous leadership roles for more than fifty years. Joni’s greatest joy in her life were her grandchildren and children.
Known as MoMo to her grandchildren, she loved to attend dance recitals, ball games, and other activities that they were involved in. While her three daughters were growing up, Joni was actively involved in the community as a sunday school teacher at their church, a Camp Fire Girls leader, Linden Elementary volunteer and was very involved with the girls’ dance company, the Contemporary Dance Ensemble. In her later years, Joni continued to be engaged with the community.
She began a mat-making circle with the women of her church who came together each Monday afternoon to create mats that would be then given to the homeless. Service was her greatest gift, as she enjoyed giving and volunteering to many non-profits within the community and her family. Joni was preceded in death by her first husband Bobby Howard Stoutt, and her second husband James Edward Gary.
She is preceded by her parents and all three siblings Clyde Beets, Wanda Lynn, and infant sister Helen Beets. She is survived by her three daughters Greta Stoutt Ownby (Jim), Tamara Stoutt Rogers (Keith), and Annette Stoutt Cacherio (Ron) and her grandchildren Jacob, Jasmine, Bobby, Marcus, Mateo, and Maria. Joni dearly loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who were her family through marriages.
She is survived by Mike Gary (Cheryl), Kathy Gary Murphy (Dean), Laura Lynn Roland (Todd), Jay Ownby (Meaghan), Andrew Gary (Julia), Rachel Gary Riley (Ben), Ryan Gary, Alex Roland, Avery Roland, Ava Gary, Jenna Gary, Sara Gary, Nate Ownby and Iris Ownby. Many friends, cousins, nephews, nieces, and extended family are left to cherish her memory and smile. If a donation is desired in lieu of flowers, the family requests it be made to a charity of choice in Joni’s memory.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 7 from 4 to 6 pm at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 127 Lafayette Drive, Oak Ridge. A Celebration of Life service, officiated by Rev. Dr. Larry Blakeburn, will be held at 6 pm followed by internment in the church’s memorial garden.
There will be a second internment service at Oak Ridge Memorial Park on Wednesday, May 8 at 11 am. Martin Funeral Home of Oak Ridge is in charge of arrangements. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Johnnie “Joni” Magdalene Stoutt Gary please visit our Sympathy Store.
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