Name: Visitation for Dr. Robert Garrigus
Start: 2016-03-03T22:00:00.000Z
End: 2016-03-04T02:00:00.000Z
Location: Woodfin Funeral Chapel - Murfreesboro

Dr. Robert Garrigus

Dr. Robert Robbins Garrigus, age 79, of Murfreesboro, TN passed away Sunday, February 28, 2016. Dr. Garrigus was born in Urbana, IL and grew up in Lexington, KY. He was the son of the late Wesley P. and Helen Robbins Garrigus.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Janice Jones Garrigus; daughters, Pamela Jebeles and husband Chris of Birmingham, AL and Heather Garrigus of Houston, TX; three grandchildren, Nicole, Kristen, and Nicholas Jebeles; a brother, Jim Garrigus and wife Sheila of Atlanta, GA; and a sister, Betty Garrigus Baird of Owensboro, KY.

Dr. Garrigus was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Murfreesboro Noon Rotary Club, and the Tennessee Livestock Association. He loved sports and was an avid Kentucky Wildcat and MTSU "True Blue Fan".

Dr. Garrigus received his B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky, his M.S. degree from the University of Illinois, and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. He taught at Purdue University for five years and then in 1967 began a 34 year teaching career at Middle Tennessee State University, retiring in 2001.

He taught ten different courses of Animal Science plus coached the Livestock Judging Teams. In 1973 he was given the Outstanding Teacher award. During his tenure, he served on the Faculty Senate, and chaired both the University Scholarship and Appeals Committees. In 1988, he was recognized by the American Polled Herford Association and honored for his outstanding youth work. The Tennessee House of Representatives and Senate honored him for his meritorious service to the citizens of the State of Tennessee. Most recently, he was honored by MTSU through the establishment of the Robert Garrigus Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel Murfreesboro. Graveside services will be held 11:00 am EST, Saturday at Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, KY with Rev. Dr. Bill Moore officiating.

Memorials may be made in honor of Dr. Garrigus to the Robert Garrigus Scholarship Fund c/o MTSU Foundation, P.O. Box 109, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. An online guestbook is available for the Garrigus family at www.woodfinchapel.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Daily News Journal on Mar. 2, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Garrigus

Sponsored by Woodfin Funeral Chapel - Murfreesboro.

16 Entries

Bill Phillips

March 13, 2016

My wife and I own Dr.Garrigus a lot. He encouraged and helped me apply to graduate schools. Without his faith in me,I would not have earned my PhD and been able to have the wonderfull life that I have had. He touched a lot of lives and left a great legacy. Thank you and the girls for sharing him with all of us.

Dave Wilson, DVM

March 4, 2016

With a heavy heart I offer my deepest condolences for your loss. Doc not only had a profound impact on my life, but also on the lives of every student he taught.

Katrina Wilkes

March 3, 2016

Dear Heather and family. Thinking of you all these next few days. Comfort and peace to you, your mother and sister. Much love.

Cellia Coggins Cope

March 3, 2016

I'm so very sorry for your loss and send my most sincere condolences. I have such great memories of Doc Garrigus and cannot hear someone say, 'You've just got to set your priorities' without thinking of him. It didn't matter if he was teaching a class, guiding our lives as an advisor or coaching those of us on the livestock judging team, he was always so incredibly passionate about everything he did. He truly loved his students, teaching, and the livestock industry. My heart is saddened by the loss, but so much richer for having had him as an instructor and friend. God bless you Doc.

Doug Shelton

March 3, 2016

So sorry for your loss. He was such a good man and such an inspiration to all of his students. I feel so honored and blessed to have known him.

Carolyn Bolton

March 3, 2016

I am truly ssorry for your loss. I pray God will bless and comfort you through your loss. It is such a hard thing to let go of our loved ones. Just remember what a blessing he was on so many young people through the years. I have to believe he will have many stars in his crown through eternity.

Kim Elmore Smith

March 2, 2016

My sincerest condolences to the Garrigus family. Doc was a very special man. Not only was he a great teacher and coach, but he truly cared about his students. I have many wonderful memories of livestock judging trips that I will never forget.

Lenace Hyde Vaughn

March 1, 2016

Dr. Garrigus was an excellent teacher and leader for all of us in the Agriculture Dept. at MTSU. I spent over 6 years in the ag dept and I can say there wasn't a day that Doc didn't influence our lives in some way. We learned so much in his class but we also learned a lot about life as we spent weeks away during our livestock judging trips. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Dr. Garrigus was lucky to have known a man who was very passionate about the livestock industry and very passionate about his students only striving to be the very best at what they were trying to achieve. He was a teacher, leader, and friend. Rest in peace Doc and please know that you will be missed by us all. To the Garrigus family, thank you for sharing such a great man with us while spending our days away from home getting our degrees at MTSU. He will never be forgotten!

Linda McElroy Elrod

March 1, 2016

Our deepest sympathy to all of you on the loss of this good man. He was a wonderful neighbor on Pitts Lane, and our daddy thought the world of him. Your family will be in our prayers as you learn to live daily life with him no longer here.

March 1, 2016

So sorry for your loss. Jesus wept after the death of his friend Lazarus. We weep along with you.
John 11:35

Glenda Rickman

February 29, 2016

I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Garrigus passing.
He was a good friend to many Polled Hereford breeders and did so much for the breed and industry.
He will be remembered as a fried and supporter of youth and the cattle industry.

Dennis Liptrap

February 29, 2016

Dear Garrigus Family,
I was sorry to learn of your loss but know you will cherish the memories and take comfort that he is well and whole in heaven with our Lord. Wesley mentored me as an undergraduate and later faculty member at the University of Kentucky and introduced me to Bob. I followed Bob's career at Purdue and MTSU and crossed paths at many livestock events as we had similar interests. I have talked with his students over the years and without a doubt he was a great teacher with the same zeal and passion as his father. Our country and world is a better place and students were blessed from his touch and guidance.

Brian Walker

February 29, 2016

I had the utmost respect for Doc, he always treated us students as if we were his own children. He was a great example for us to follow. I hope you can have peace knowing he is no longer suffering.

Kari Norton Batey

February 29, 2016

Dear Pam and Heather: I hate to hear of your loss. I know he fought a tough battle in his later life, but I know you have wonderful memories to sustain you now that he is at peace. You'll continue to be in our prayers.

Les Fuller

February 29, 2016

We are so sorry to hear about your loss. Doc was a good man. He gave us a great education; both in the class room and with living life. We will miss his smile and laugh.

Cliff Ricketts

February 29, 2016

He was a great teacher, a role model for his students and great man. He will be missed. I enjoyed our Monday, Blue Raider
lunches that we went to for several years. My condolences.

Showing 1 - 16 of 16 results