Clayton Garrison

Clayton Thorstene Garrison, 92

My father was born August 12, 1931, in Purdy, Missouri and went to his new and eternal home on September 4, 2023. He has now been reunited with the love of his life, Geraldine Faye ("Mom") who went to Heaven in 2017. Dad is survived by his one son Michael Keith Garrison and his wife Lori, granddaughter Ashley Garrison Hurt and Husband Joel, grandsons L. Clay Garrison and his partner Elyssa, Jackson T. Garrion and wife Sierra, and great grandchildren Sheppard Hurt, Stone Hurt, Jolie Hurt, Myles Garrison Hurt, Lincoln Garrison, Eliza Garrison and (this November) Joshua Clayton Garrison.

Dad accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord as a teenager and was a lifelong member of the Baptist denomination. He was a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church and a proud Texas transplant. He met Mom in Austin when he was stationed briefly at Bergstrom Air Force Base in 1951. After they were married Dad was assigned duty in Korea, but he and his crew of airmen only made it as far as Hokkaido Japan where he and two others manned a .50 caliber machine gun, guarding the beach against a "possible Russian invasion".

Upon his return home, he was reunited with Mom and given new orders: Fairbanks, Alaska. They drove from Austin to Fairbanks with their dog, Sandy, two pieces of luggage and twelve spare tires. They made it with no spare tires remaining.

When his enlistment expired in 1955, Dad was processed out of service in Enid, Oklahoma. On their way back to Austin, Dad and Mom stopped overnight in Fort Worth. He then decided to enroll at Texas Christian University and was admitted that fall, even though classes had already started two weeks prior. Dad graduated in two and a half years with a degree in accounting while also working 40 hours a week to pay the rent.

Moving to Austin in 1961, Dad went to work for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He became the Department's Executive Director in 1972 and served in that capacity until 1977. Dad then joined the Employees Retirement System of Texas and retired as the agency's Executive Director in 1990.

Until Mom's passing in 2017, Dad devoted himself to her, traveling, enjoying the grandkids, fellowshipping with their friends at church. Caring for her as her health declined. He felt driven to "make up for the lost time" when his work demanded so much. He succeeded.

As a son of the Great Depression, Dad knew, early-on, the necessity of hard work and sacrifice required to sustain his family through periods of want and deprivation. An existence he made sure my Mom and I never had to experience.

His family will miss him.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Monday, September 11, 2023, at Harrell Funeral Home of Austin. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at Greenwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas.

Services are under the direction of Harrell Funeral Homes.