We Held Janie For the 1st Time – 48 Years Ago Today. Final (Public) Tribute

There is a time for public grieving. That time is coming to a close. At some point, it is time to move into the “private moments” of remembering a loss.
 
Over the years, I have witnessed parents whose children passed away. Some of them never recovered. I am determined not to be one who never recovers. As I have noted many times, I grew up in a home where two of us five children never made it to our 20th birthdays. We watched our parents choose to flourish in life with vibrancy, even though they so missed two of their children – my sister Janie and my brother Bob – who had gone on to heaven way before them.
 
John Nielson, a Nazarene pastor from the Boston area, made a profound comment regarding death. His quote began with the words “although we do not grieve as those who have no hope…” He is obviously citing Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. But the full quote is more profound: “Although we do not grieve as those who have no hope, neither do we hope as those who have no grief.” 
 
I am coming to the close of the public extended tributes to my daughter. I suspect this may be my final one. The rest will likely be within much smaller circles, privately, or maybe within my heart.

As I share one more tribute to Jane Alissa Garlow McGarity, I would like to invite you into our family circle of remembrances. 
 
LET’S BEGIN WITH A VIDEO OVERVIEW OF HER LIFE
Watch Here.

DR. JIM GARLOW, DAD

As father I shared the moments in which I first held my newly adopted four-day old daughter Janie. Listen as I shared my comments through my tears here.

Here is a written version of Janie’s adoption from the book God Will See You Through This, Chapter 10: Read Here.

JOSHUA AND LACY GARLOW, BROTHER AND SISTER IN LAW

My son, Pastor Joshua Garlow, and his wife, Lacy Garlow, shared some tender as well as humorous thoughts about Janie. Janie was two and a half years old when we adopted Joshua. Janie and Joshua were extremely close, and both of them had a highly developed sense of humor. They could be hilarious together. When Joshua married Lacy, she became a best friend of Janie’s. Watch Here.

Joshua and Lacy have three wonderful sons: Lukas (who just married Kelcie on May 22; Janie had just passed away May 15), Jackson, and Tyson. At Janie’s Memorial Service, you can barely see Lukas and Jackson playing guitars with the band for the worship songs.

JACOB GARLOW, BROTHER

Janie was fourteen years older than her sister and youngest brother. Since Carol and I were in our 40s when we adopted the 3rd and 4th of our four children, Janie, who had natural maternal and protectionistic instincts, became a “2nd mother” to Jacob and Josie. This loss of Carol 12 years ago, and the loss of Janie now, were huge blows to Jacob and Josie. 
 
Hear Jacob’s comments here, when he is joined by wife Jessica and son Grayson:
Watch Here.

JOSIE GARLOW DEBUS, SISTER

Hear Josie's comments here.

JUDY GARLOW WADE, AUNT

Janie with Aunt Judy

My sister Judy was extremely close to Janie. Watch her tribute here.

CADE EVERETT, FIRST COUSIN

Janie with First Cousin Cade

Cade was the 1st cousin who was the closest in age to Janie.
Hear his tribute.

ROSEMARY SCHINDLER GARLOW, STEP MOTHER

Janie with Rosemary

Twelve years ago, I became a widower. Eleven years ago, I was blessed to meet and marry Rosemary Schindler. She will share some thoughts about Janie here.

REBEKA SCHINDLER, STEP SISTER

Janie with Rebeka

When I married Rosemary, Janie gained some step-siblings. One of those is Rebeka. They enjoyed some fun times together. Watch her tribute here.

APRIL DEEGAN

Janie with best college friend April

Janie’s best friend in college was April Deegan. April was with her one final time just hours before Janie graduated to heaven. Watch her tribute.

Now let’s move to Janie’s husband and children.

RILEY MCGARITY, SON

Janie with Son Riley

AIDAN MCGARITY, SON

Janie with Son Aidan

LEVI MCGARITY, SON

Janie with Dad and Son Levi

After having three sons – Riley, Aidan and Levi – Janie was super excited to have a daughter in law, when Riley married Kaden. Janie and Kaden were not mother in law/daughter in law. They were truly mother-daughter.

Janie with Daughter in Law Kaden

LEVI AND KADEN SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS

Fourteen year old Levi McGarity shared about his mother. Daughter in law Kaden shared. Six foot four inch (their dad Jeremy is 6’ 6”) Riley McGarity and Aidan McGarity stood with them. Watch Here.

JEREMY MCGARITY, JANIE’S HUSBAND

Janie with her Husband Jeremy

Pastor Jeremy McGarity was married to Janie for 27 years before she graduated to heaven. Through pain and tears, hear his profound commitment to Janie, and of their joint commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a tender moment for this husband, who has had to say goodbye to his wife at such a young age. Watch his tribute here.

ANOTHER TRIBUTE:
As you know, when you lose a loved one it hurts so bad. It is cathartic to be able to talk about them. Someone once said, “No person is dead so long as you keep saying their name and telling their stories.” The statement is not theologically correct, but we all understand the meaning of it. 

Here is what I shared about Janie on Sunday, May 18, three days after she graduated into heaven. WPN Call 448.

THE BURIAL
The burial was a tender moment. Here is a little glimpse of her husband, and then her three sons and three nephews carrying the casket.

HEAVEN
About three months ago, this 10 second video popped up on my phone. It so shocked me. The young woman in the video looked exactly like Janie. After she graduated to heaven, it became so comforting to us.
Watch Here.

JANIE'S WRITING

Janie's handwritten note from September 28, 2024

After Janie died, her husband Jeremy found she had written this note on
September 28, 2024.

LET’S CLOSE WITH WORSHIP: KADEN MCGARITY
(DAUGHTER IN LAW) –SINGING

Listen to Kaden McGarity, at the Memorial Service June 1, 2025, singing “Goodness of God,” which includes the remarkable line “All My Life You Have Been Faithful”
–  Watch Here.

There are three central messages:

1. God has been so faithful
2. Heaven and eternal life are real.
3. You need to be prepared (now) to meet God. Repent of your sins and ask Jesus to become the Savior and Lord of your life. 

 
We love you all. Thank you for helping to carry us through these difficult days.
 
Trusting in that “blessed hope,”
Jim Garlow