Joan J. “Jody” Ausmus, 85 of Centralia passed away Monday, January 8, 2024, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia.
Family and friends are invited to Jody’s Life Celebration 11:00 AM Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home in Centralia, with burial to follow in the Centralia City Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
Jody was born on November 16, 1938, in Columbia, the daughter of Wilson Spencer and Maxine (Merideth) Johnson.
On August 16, 1959, Jody married James T. Ausmus, and he survives of the home.
Along with her husband, Jody is survived by her children, James T. Ausmus II (Sarah), Jeffrey K. Ausmus (Julie), Joseph Andrew Ausmus (Christy); grandchildren, Janeka Ausmus, Brittany Ann Heater, Jeffrey Kingsland Ausmus II, Lindsey Brooke Ausmus, Adam Reginald Ausmus, Alexander Kost Ausmus, Andrew Peter James Ausmus; great-grandchildren, Mikyan Ehnert, Avery Joann Wood, Benton Lee Palmer, Levi Kingsland Ausmus, Charlotte Stocks Ausmus, Chase Alan Heater; brother, Larre Dean Johnson.
Jody was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, William Eugene “Butch” Johnson.
She was a 1956 graduate of Hickman High School, then attended Stephens College and the University of Missouri-Columbia, graduating with a degree in Education.
Jody was a schoolteacher for a few years before raising her family, then she worked as the legal secretary for Ausmus, Ausmus & Beck Law Firm for many years.
She was a member of the PEO, a Past President of the Panther Boosters. Jody loved attending her sons’ sporting events, never missing a single event. She also served as an official score keeper for the Centralia Little League, Mexico Legion Baseball and the Centralia Ban Johnson Baseball Team.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Centralia United Methodist Church and may be sent in care of Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home, 104 S. Collier St. Centralia, MO 65240.
Online condolences may be left at www.fentonkendrickfh.com
