JoAnne "Jody" Hooley Gatten was born May 12, 1929, and Springfield, Ohio was a better place for it. Growing up in Urbana, Jody met the love of her life, her husband Jim Gattenwhile in high school. The two married, moved to Springfield and raised two daughters, Linda and Nancy.

As her children graduated from high school and went off to college, Jody took to local politics, becoming the director of
the Rotary Club's handicapped children's program. In 1975, she also managed the levy campaign responsible for the
construction of the City Building at 76 High Street, amassing 5.7 million dollars in funds to complete the project.

Jody served as president of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters for one term. She championed for acceptance of African Americans to the Springfield Country Club and was also a dedicated supporter of Planned Parenthood

Over the years, life led Jody to further her education, and she earned credits in a process called experiential learning at both Chatham College and the University of Houston.

Sadly, after years of marriage Jody lost the love of her life to a heart attack in 1982, changing the trajectory of her life. Whereas Jody expected to enjoy traveling and enjoying time with Jim, she now had to find financial stability. Through perseverance and study, Jody did just that. Springfield a better city to live in up until her death in April of 2024.

Jody Gatten died on April 12, 2024 and is buried in Ferncliff section 35.