Photo courtesy of Woodfin Funeral Chapel - Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Age 79
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.
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.
Bill Phillips
March 13, 2016 | Edmond, OK
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.
Dave Wilson, DVM
March 04, 2016 | Middlesex, NY
Dear Heather and family. Thinking of you all these next few days. Comfort and peace to you, your mother and sister. Much love.
Katrina Wilkes
March 03, 2016 | Wichita, KS
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...
Cellia Coggins Cope
March 03, 2016 | Mufreesboro, TN
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.
Doug Shelton
March 03, 2016 | Lawrenceburg, TN
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.
Carolyn Bolton
March 03, 2016 | Lafayette, TN
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.
Kim Elmore Smith
March 02, 2016 | Lebanon, TN
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...
Lenace Hyde Vaughn
March 01, 2016 | Fayetteville, TN
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.
Linda McElroy Elrod
March 01, 2016 | Murfreesboro, TN
