Cleo Lehmann Garriott

Cleo Catherine Garriott (nee Lehmann) of Willow Street, Pennsylvania, passed away on December 13, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born on August 1, 1929, in Granite, Maryland (Baltimore County) to Alfred Arthur Lehmann and Martha Jane Lehmann, (nee Fisher), Cleo joined her brother Arthur and sisters Ruth (Chalker), and Jane (Sauter). Her brother Carl arrived a few years later, with little sister Louise (Klohr) to follow. After graduating from Catonsville High School in 1946, Cleo attended beauty school and worked as a hairdresser. While riding the bus to high school, she met the love of her life, Charles “Pete” Garriott, and they married on March 13, 1948, at Emmerts Methodist Church in Woodlawn. During their early married life, she and Pete started Garriott & Hidey Plumbing and Heating Company. With the help of their parents, they built a brick rancher on Old Court Road in Granite, Maryland, where they raised five children. Cleo and Pete cared for her widowed mother, Martha Lehmann, in their home for many years.

Even in high school, Cleo’s love for fashion blossomed as she honed her talents as a seamstress. She sewed many tailored suits for herself and made her wedding dress. Cleo produced lovely Sunday dresses for her daughters, a few polyester suits for her sons, wedding dresses for both daughters, and multiple bridesmaid dresses. She even sewed a padded case for her son’s large acoustic bass. She worked as a hairdresser from home, reupholstered furniture, canned vegetables, and won prizes for her embroidery. The daughter of a farmer, Cleo tended an abundant garden of corn, kale, strawberries, and more, using organic gardening methods. But her greatest gardening joy were her rose gardens. Cleo’s roses were her signature, whether Hybrid Teas, Floribunda, Grandifloras, etc. Her favorite color rose was PINK!

The couple attended Granite Presbyterian Church and later Liberty Reformed Presbyterian Church, where they were active for decades. Cleo would tell you that her spiritual life awoke while attending Christian Women’s Club meetings at Martin’s West in the mid 1960’s. It was there that she came to a personal relationship with Jesus and committed her life to Christ. Cleo attended Bible Studies and memorized long passages, even full chapters of Scripture. She easily recited her Bible memory verses in recent months despite having advanced dementia. Cleo prayed faithfully for her family and friends up to her final days.

Cleo put many a smile on faces as she served up huge trays of homemade cinnamon buns for the large Young Life Campaigners/Leadership gatherings they hosted during their children’s high school years. She frequently hosted church groups and family dinners for her growing extended family. Cleo had much joy in hosting tea parties (proper formal attire required!) for her grandchildren.

She partnered with Pete in establishing Fields of Harvest development in Granite, Maryland, and building a beach house in Fenwick Island, Delaware. After retirement, Cleo and Pete enjoyed spending winters in Naples, Florida, where they would bike, swim, collect shells, play cards with friends, and scour thrift shops for bargains.

Cleo is survived by her loving husband Pete, daughter Connie Lou (Darryl Hockstra), daughter Charlene Sue (John Lufburrow, Jr.), son Charles Michael (Debby Cacace), son Craig Wesley (Maria Dawkins), and son Christopher William. She leaves behind 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

A private family graveside service will be held at Granite Presbyterian Church prior to Cleo’s Celebration of Life Service. At 11:00 A.M on Saturday, December 20th a Celebration of Life service will be held at Chapelgate Presbyterian Church on 2600 Olive Branch Way in Marriottsville, Maryland 21104. A reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:

Abbott Memorial Presbyterian Church  

3426 Bank Street

Baltimore, Md. 21224

BALM

P.O. BOX 39477

Baltimore, Md. 21212

Ministry to State

2908 18th Street NW

Washington, D.C. 2009

Online condolences at www.Burrier-Queen.com.