Marion Lee Garrett's Obituary
Marion Lee Garrett passed away peacefully at Senior Suites Nursing Home on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at the age of 89. Visitation will be at Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Wednesday 18, 2018 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Graveside services with full military honors will be held at Ava Cemetery, Ava Missouri, on Thursday, July 19, 2018 at 3:00 pm. Burial is at the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Ava, Missouri.Marion was born in Springfield, Missouri on February 20, 1929 to Jesse (Jess) Lorenzo and Jessie Maude Garrett. He graduated from Ontario High School in Ontario, Oregon in May of 1947. He attended Boise Junior College from 1948 to 1949. He was a member of the Idaho National Guard from 1948 to 1950. Marion was drafted into active service in 1950. He was a corporal assigned as Assistant Squad Leader “A” Company 1st Engineering Division. In 1952, he received the Army Occupation Medal for his service in Germany. He married the love of his life, Norma Ritter, in Wichita, Kansas, on March 25, 1953.Marion worked at Braniff Airways for 37 years, retiring as an Agent in Charge. Marion had a big heart. He worked the 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM shift at Braniff and saw the last flight out every night. Sometimes a child, teen or old person would miss the last connection for the night. If they didn’t have money for a hotel or a relative nearby, they would be stranded at the airport all night. So, many times Marion would call Norma and ask if he could bring a stranded passenger home for the night and feed them. She always said yes.Marion enjoyed gardening, woodworking and making greeting cards. Marion also fixed computers for ICANN, a non-profit group that provides computers to those who cannot afford them.For many years, Marion and Norma opened their home to large groups of teenagers traveling to Tulsa each March for the Soul Winning Workshop. Kids slept all over the dining room and living room floors.Marion believed that life had no meaning if one was not helping others.Marion was a member of North Sheridan Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Gladstone Church of Christ in Kansas City, Missouri; Sunset Church of Christ in Springfield, Missouri; and finally, Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Marion is survived by his wife of 65 years, Norma Rea. Daughter and son-in-law Cynthia Garrett and Michael Smith; son and daughter-in-law Larry and Sherry Garrett; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Bob Wilkerson; grandchildren Jolie Fralicks and husband Scott, Terie Clark and husband Kyle, Justin Garrett, and Rachel Garrett; 13 great grandchildren; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jack and Kay Ritter; cousin Guavana Lou and husband John R. Sims; niece and husband Judy and Rick Galati; nephew and wife Bill and Edie Singer and many 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation cousins, nieces and nephews. Marion is proceeded in death by his parents Jessie Maude and Jesse (Jess) Lorenzo Garrett; brother Allan Robert Smith; sister-in-law Jo Smith; sister Genevieve Mae Garrett Singer and brother-in-law William Singer; and father-in-law and mother-in-law Richard and Cora Ritter.Visitation will be 10-7 pm, Wednesday July 18, 2018 at Floral Haven Funeral HomeGraveside Service will be 3:00 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 2018 at Ava City Cemetery in Ava, MO.
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