Jo Anne Lambert

IN MEMORY OF: Jo Anne Lambert Serving Location: CRAIN FUNERAL HOME – ANNA 135 West Vienna Street, Anna, Illinois Jo Anne Lambert, age 87, of Anna, Illinois, formerly of Irvington, Illinois for 50 years, passed away on Friday, December 29, 2023 at The Voyage Senior Living in Anna. She was born on February 5, 1936 to Raymond and Bertha (Baldridge) Cohlmeyer in Ashley, Illinois. She married Howard Lambert on September 21, 1952 in Piggott, Arkansas and they spent over 65 years together until his death. She graduated from Ashley High School. She worked at the Irvington Medical Center for Jerry L. Beguelin, MD and worked at Good Samaritan/St. Mary’s as an office manager for physician offices. Before retirement, she managed Richard H. Garretson, MD office in Mt. Vernon. After retirement, she volunteered with the American Red Cross and she was a board member of the Centralia Chapter and served as a Blood Drive Co-Coordinator of the Centralia Area Blood Drives for 10 years, retiring in 2013. She enjoyed flower gardening, helping her neighbors with their yards and flower gardens. She enjoyed dancing with friends, her grandchildren and taking care of the neighborhood cats and especially “Sam.” Jo Anne is survived by her son, Gregory Scott (Angie) Lambert of Anna, IL; daughters, Lisa (John) Bigler of Springfield, MO and Diane Holt of Centralia, IL; grandchildren, Beau (Jamie) Forbes of Oak Park, IL, JJ Forbes of Royalton, IL; Brittney (Bryan) West of Jonesboro, IL; Chris Lambert of Anna, IL; Madison Bigler, John David Bigler, and Allyson Jo Anne Bigler all of Springfield, MO; great-grandchildren, Ronan Forbes & Maisie Forbes of Oak Park, IL, Kaylee West, Caden West, Kyler West, & Cohen West, of Jonesboro, IL and Caroline Lambert of Anna, IL; brother-in-law, Larry (Sue) Lambert of Robinson, IL; sister-in-law, Evelyn Lambert of Centralia, IL; and many nieces and nephews throughout the country. Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Stanley Cohlmeyer, Robert Cohlmeyer, and Raymond Cohlmeyer; sister, Jewell Lockwood; sister-in-laws, Donna Skambracks, June Cohlmeyer, Thelma Cohlmeyer, Kathryn Cohlmeyer, and Alvera Lambert; brother-in-laws, Glen Lambert, Kenneth Lambert, Herman Skambracks; son-in-law, Rick Holt. Cremation rites have been accorded. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Centralia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made to donor’s choice, local animal shelters, Wounded Warriors through the VFW. Crain Funeral Home, Anna, Illinois is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Jo Anne Lambert

February 5, 1936 - December 29, 2023