LeBerta Jean Garino

LeBerta Jean Garino peacefully received a Heavenly upgrade into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, just thirty minutes before sundown, on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Mt. Vernon, MO. Lee, as her friends called her, was born on January 2, 1939 in Johnstown, PA to Ernest P. and Minnie (Scipione) Massimo. Her father was a coal miner both in PA, and later near Rochester, NY, where her mother worked for Kodak. Later, when children started arriving, Minnie became a fulltime homemaker. Ernest and Minnie divorced later, and Ernest remarried to Neva. 

Lee was predeceased by her parents; stepmother Neva; brother Joseph of Baltimore, MD and husband, Jack Garino. She is survived by her half-brothers and their wives, Ernest & Kathy of Antioch, IL; Edward & Brenda of Biloxi, MS; Mark & Diana of Waukegan, WI; Anthony & Mary of Baltimore, MD; Brian & Lori of Zion, IL; Gary & Sue of Bluffton, SC; special friend and longtime, faithful companion Don Rogers of Mt. Vernon; her daughter and son-in-law Beverley & Mike Moore of Lynden, WA; her son Russell Mansfield of Boring, OR; and numerous grandchildren, great- grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. 

Mom was very proud of her Italian heritage. Her mother’s parents emigrated to the US from Italy in 1918, but on January 22, 1919, when Minnie was just three-years old, both parents passed and then three days later, her year-old brother, Sisto, also succumbed to the Spanish flu pandemic. Still, Minnie’s daughter, Lee, was a full-fledged Italian and she made sure you knew that! 

Lee lived a very full life, pursuing several occupations, and one career. She spent many of her adult years in California. One place she lived while married to a Navy man, was when they were transferred to a wonderful sounding place in the Mojave Desert. It was called China Lake, and was exactly what you would expect in the desert. It wasn’t a charming tropical paradise! The home of a Naval Weapons Test Station was complete with a dry lake, sand, wind, sun, blowing dust, high temperatures, yucca plants, and lots of cactus. She dealt cards in a cardroom and later became a police matron, long before there were actual police women. In her last two years, Mom admitted to her pastor that she was “Kind of a wildcat!” in those days. After the desert, the family was transferred to Japan for four years, where she immensely loved living. And then, the family was transferred back to the desert. 

Back at the Naval Weapons Station, she began a twenty-five-year career working for the US Navy as a Procurement Clerk for Base Housing. After moving to the Bay Area of California, she continued her employment at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Finally, she and husband, Jack, were transferred to Hawaii, for their jobs. They loved it so much they stayed for five years, before retiring to Gainesville, MO. They later moved to Miller, where Jack passed in 2009. Lee then moved to Mt. Vernon. 

On Pearl Harbor Day of 2011, Donald L. Rogers arrived in Mt. Vernon from Ohio, after losing his wife to a long-term illness. Little did Don know that eleven days later he would be meeting Lee at a church Christmas party at the home of Terry and Tammy Pitts. Terry was pastor of the newly formed Glory Road Community Church. In October of 2012, Lee and Don, after much prayer and some pastoral consultation, became roommates. Mom, who was raised Catholic, first met Tammy and Terry Pitts around 2006 at First Christian, Disciples of Christ in Mt. Vernon. Finally, around August of 2023, Mom joyfully became “Saved” after she was led to the Lord by Tammy and Terry. It was a special event when Mom fully accepted Jesus on that day! 

On March 12, 2025, Mom entered a local skilled nursing facility, and it was Don, who dutifully visited her every day – unless there was a VFW meeting – and brought a favorite dish of hers from either Sonic, Mazzio’s, El Azteca, Taco Bell, McDonalds or Panda House. Also, chicken and rice soup from Mt. Vernon Family Restaurant. Then, Don usually ate Mom’s horrible “nursing home dinner” that she so detested! 

In January 2026, Lee had a brief illness that resulted in placement in hospice care. The family wishes to thank the excellent staff at Three Rivers Hospice of Mt. Vernon, and especially, Traci and Alicia, for the understanding, compassionate, and attentive care. 

There will be a Celebration of Life service for Lee in early 2027. Advance notice will be given. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mt. Vernon.