Our beloved Jamie Jo Dart passed away on September 6, 2026, just six days before her 47th birthday. Losing Jamie has left an emptiness in our family that words simply cannot describe.

Jamie was born on September 12, 1979, the sixth of six daughters born to Jim and Claudia Dart. That made her our baby sister—a title she would carry for her entire life, no matter how old any of us became. There is something special about the bond between sisters, and when there are six of you, there are a lifetime of stories, memories, laughter, disagreements, inside jokes, and love that only sisters can truly understand. Jamie will always be the baby of our family.

Jamie was funny. She could make us laugh, and her sense of humor was one of the things we will miss most about her. She loved hockey, music, books, true crime, and scary movies. These were the things that made Jamie happy and made her uniquely herself.

And then there were her animals.

Jamie had such a special place in her heart for her fur babies. Lily, Daisy, and Chewy were deeply loved by her, along with the family fur babies, Billie and Ellie. To Jamie, they weren't “just pets.” They were companions, comfort, family, and a source of unconditional love.

But the greatest love in Jamie's life was her family.

Jamie leaves behind her beloved son, Ayden Case, her five big sisters, LeAnne DeLaVega, Teresa Defries, Sharlene Littleton, Jeannie (Lance) Rhodes, and Luella Rose. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who knew and loved her as Aunt Jamie Jo and who will carry their own special memories of her throughout their lives.

Jamie was preceded in death by our parents, Jim and Claudia Dart; her nephew, Christopher Dart; and her great-niece, Evelyn Dart. While our hearts hurt knowing Jamie is no longer here with us, there is comfort in thinking of her being reunited with Mom and Dad, Christopher, and Evelyn.

Grief has a way of showing up in ordinary moments. We know there will be songs that suddenly make us think of Jamie. There will be hockey games we wish we could talk to her about. There will be scary movies that remind us of her, stories that make us laugh because we can hear exactly what Jamie would have said, and moments with the animals when we will think about just how much she loved them.

And there will always be five older sisters who remember what it was like when there were six.

Jamie left us far too soon. We wish we had more time, more conversations, more laughter, and more memories to make. But we are grateful for the years we were given with her and for every memory that is now ours to keep.

Jamie wasn't simply our sister, mother, aunt, niece, cousin, or friend.

She was our Jamie Jo.

And no matter how much time passes, she will always have a place in our family and in our hearts.

Jamie Jo Dart

Go rest high, Sister.