SAMUEL GARRETT

1948 - 2025

SAMUEL PHILLIPS GARRETT 11/13/1948 - 4/1/2025 The Bible tells us the wise man builds his life on the rock of obedience to Jesus teaching. Samuel Phillips Garrett built his life on that promise until God completed His work on April 1, 2025. Sam had two great loves in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his bride of nearly 53 years Donna. These two loves made Sam into the loving, faithful man he was. Born on November 13, 1948, in Beckley West Virginia, to Tom and Kathryn Garrett, he lived his childhood in West Virginia with his older brother and sister, Tom and Betsy Garrett. His father died when Sam was eight years old leaving a sorrow that he carried the rest of his life. After graduating from St Albans High School and lasting a semester at Marshall University, Sam entered the US Air Force. Though he only served four years, God used those years to shape the rest of his life. He spent a year in Vietnam, but his next stop at Perrin Air Force Base in Denison TX that changed Sam's life. During the year in Denison, he met and fell in love with Donna. After a year apart they married July 7, 1972 and spent the next 53 years together. Out of this love and commitment to his wife, Sam discovered his true calling and purpose. Their relationship led him to the Gospel and it's transforming power. Sam's life changed and he became a powerful proclaimer of Christ death and resurrection, and the victory that Jesus gives over sin and death. Through the power of the Holy Spirit working in him, Sam worked his way through college, seminary and then preached this Gospel for forty years, leading 3 churches as pastor including Oakridge Baptist Church in Denison for 30 years. Sam took great joy in offering invitations for others to follow Christ. Sam's success in ministry came not through his natural ability; it came through his dependence on God's presence in his life. Therefore, Sam devoted himself to the study of the Bible, reading, memorizing, and meditating on it daily. He fervently and systematically prayed for himself and for others. Sam prioritized not his ministry but his relationship with God. That is why he was able to minister and influence so many people. His family received the greatest blessing that came out of Sam's obedience to God's call. Sam's love for his Savior and his devotion to his wife created a home where his three sons, Wade, Luke and Travis could learn to love and mature into followers of Christ. The home he led never looked grand on the outside, but secured by the grace of God, built on devotion to God's word and faithful love between Sam and Donna, it stood the test of time. And it grew with the addition of three beautiful daughters-in-law Laurie, Kara and Sarah, and then five incredible grandkids, Samuel, Stephen, Daniel, Emma and Caleb. Sam lived and died in the power of Christ resurrection. We know now that though absent from one of his great loves, he is present with the other. The family will receive friends at 9:00AM, Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Fisher Funeral Home Chapel with services following at 10:00AM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers please make memorials in his name to Oakridge Baptist Church.