Garnett Irene Lawrence Tyree Gerland

Garnett Irene Lawrence Tyree Gerland, 79, of Chamblissburg, entered her Lord's heavenly garden on Saturday, May 22, 2010. She had recently been a resident of The Berkshire in Vinton and Loyalton Assisted Living of Roanoke. Garnett was born on December 29, 1930, daughter of the late Noah and Vida Conner Lawrence and grew up in Check, Va. As a young woman, Garnett moved to Roanoke and worked first in Katie's Ice Cream Parlor and then as a seamstress. After getting married, she moved to Chamblissburg where she resided until becoming ill in 2007. Garnett enjoyed sewing and gardening, but her greatest pleasure was in caring for all of her grandchildren as they grew up. Garnett was a special lady and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, James W. (Bill) Tyree, second husband, Frank Gerland, brother, Allen Lawrence, sisters, Dorothy Radford and Mary Saunders and daughter, Dreama Wilkes. She is survived by a brother, Raymond Lawrence and wife, Opal; sister, Reba Jones and husband, Marvin; sister, Ilene Lawrence; daughter, Vicki Brown and husband, Johnny; granddaughter, Misty Smith-Klein and husband, Glenn; granddaughter, Heather Robtison and husband, Anthony; grandson, Adrian Smith, grandson Christian Wilkes and fiancée, Jessica Guilliams; great-grandsons, Ashton Klein and Evan Klein; and great-granddaughter (due in August) Emily Robtison. Also surviving are son-in-law, Darrell Wilkes; sister-in-law, Reba Lawrence; nephew, Frankie Lawrence; nieces, Debbie Lawrence, Donna Vest and Nancy Jones; and stepdaughters, Germaine Rorer, Hazel Roye and Nancy McGlothlin, as well as a dear friend, Maureen Artrip. The family would like to express their thanks to the staff and residents of Loyalton and Berskshire.
A service celebrating Garnett's life will be held 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Vinton Chapel of Oakey's Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dennis Moore (Ret.) officiating. Interment will follow in Beaverdam Baptist Church Cemetery in Chamblissburg. The family will receive friends at the funeral home immediately prior to the service from 1 to 3 p.m. Arrangements by Oakey's Vinton Chapel, 540-982-2221.