Joan (Smith) Ott

Joan (Smith) Ott of St. James passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at the St. James Living Center. She was 84 years of age.

Joan was born August 2, 1937, to Edmond and Teresa (nee Flynn) Smith of Litchfield, IL.

Joan was united in marriage to Larry Ott Sr. in August 1991, who entered into his rest in October 2005.  Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Larry Ott Sr.; her step-daughter, Linda Ott; and her nephew, Gregory Smith.

Joan is survived by her step-son, Larry Ott Jr., and his wife Lisa; her step-grandchildren, Lauren and Landon Ott, all of Chicago IL; her brother Richard (Dick) Smith and his wife, Patti, of St. James, MO; and by nephews David, and wife Rene, of St. Louis, MO; and Chadd, and wife Amanda, of Copperas Cove, TX, as well as several great-nieces and nephews.

Joan attended Holy Redeemer Grade School, Nerinx Hall High School, and she graduated from Webster College with a Master’s in Elementary Education (all schools were located in Webster Groves, MO). Joan was a Webster Grove Elementary School teacher for 33 years.

As a teenager she acquired an attachment to horses and won many awards for barrel racing; one of her horses took second place in “pleasure” at the Missouri State Fair. For several years, with her enduring love of animals, she maintained a small ranch in Safe, MO, with cattle, horses, and cats. Joan gave every animal on the farm a name, resembling its personality. Joan loved to decorate for the holidays and other occasions and to entertain family and friends. She was very creative and celebrated to the utmost.

Joan was a regular member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Rosati, MO; and was a member of the Gardeners of the Forest City of St. James, MO. She also mentored youth in the Community Partnership of Phelps County, located in Rolla, MO. She initiated the “bear with crocheted hat” project for St. James Head Start, involving a friend to crochet winter hats and scarves for the children (and their stuffed bears). Her greatest enjoyments were sitting on her back porch deck watching her animals, watching the birds in numerous feeders, listening to Cardinal Baseball games, reading a book, and gardening.

Visitation for Joan Ott will be at 9:00-10:30 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2022, at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, MO.

Funeral Mass will then be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, with Father Brendan Griffey as the celebrant. Pallbearers will be Jim O’Fallon, David Smith, Erick Smith, Bill Leeper, Josh Hitch, and John Gantzer. The burial of Joan’s ashes will be at a later date, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Rosati, MO. In lieu of flowers, she preferred donations be made to the St. Anthony’s Cemetery Fund.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, MO.