Daisy Ruth Dilling Garrett

Daisy Ruth Dilling Garrett of Fordyce passed away on November 14 at the age of 95. She was born to John J. and Selena Averill Dilling on August 20, 1912 in Merrill, Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband James Herbert Garrett to whom she was married for forty-four years, two brothers John Dilling and George Dilling and two sisters Averill Heisserer and Catherine Cross.

Mrs. Garrett is survived by a son, Jim Garrett and his wife Donna of Magnolia and a daughter, Garie Johnson, and her husband Roy of Fordyce. She is also survived by four grandsons Gray Garrett of Dallas, Texas, Scott Johnson and wife Jia of Idabel, Oklahoma, Andy Johnson and wife Gina of Fordyce, and Sam Johnson of Bryant and one granddaughter Gretchen Estes and husband Brian of Wilmington, North Carolina.

She was the proud grandmother of five great-grandchildren Cole and Samantha Johnson of Fordyce, Ali Johnson of Idabel, Oklahoma and Burke and Riley Estes of Wilmington, North Carolina.

She attended the University of Arkansas and graduated from Henderson State Teachers College with a degree in Elementary Education. At the university she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was proud when her only granddaughter joined the sorority.

She was a lifelong educator and had fruitful careers at Willisville, Chidester, Thornton, and Bearden. She retired from teaching at Kingsland. Her love for education must have carried over to her family for her husband Herbert, her daughter Garie, her son Jim and her granddaughter Gretchen were all educators at one time in their life.

She was a tireless worker in the Kingsland Methodist Church where a juniper tree was planted in her honor. That small tree has grown to a majestic shade tree. As a longtime, active member of First Methodist Church of Fordyce, she was honored by having a circle named the Daisy Ruth Garrett Circle and was presented a lifetime membership pin by United Methodist Women. She was a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and pianist. She was also a member of the Gleaners Sunday School Class.

Mrs. Garrett was a charter member of the Chicot Trace Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Services will be held 1 PM Friday at the First Methodist Church of Fordyce with burial at Moss Hill Cemetery at Bearden. Visitation will be Thursday from 6 PM until 8 PM at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. Memorials may be made to the First Methodist Church of Fordyce or to Hospice Angels, 3801 Camden Road, Chapel Village I. Suite 12, Pine Bluff, AR 71603. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.com.