U. Edwin "Ookie" Garrison

Ulas Edwin "Ed" Garrison passed away peacefully on December 12, 2025 at the age of 97. He had a full, healthy and consequential life and was greatly loved and admired.
He was born February 9, 1928, to Jerry T. and Brazzie Mae Garrison in Guin, Alabama. As a baby, his Dad nicknamed him "Ookie," and it became a familiar nickname most of his life. He attended grade school in Tuscaloosa and Macon High School in Macon, Mississippi. He was an avid musician, mastering the violin as well as the trombone. Growing up, Ed worked on the family dairy farm, picked cotton, drove a coal truck, and had many other unique experiences working with his Dad. He learned about hard work, resilience, and determination-values that would mark his life and help propel his many successes.
Ed left home at the age of 18 and served in the US Navy from 1946-48, while he attended the University of South Carolina and later Mississippi State University enabled by the GI Bill. He completed the Navy V-5 program and earned his private pilot license. He subsequently held a commission in the US Air Force Reserve from 1950-1965. Ed was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity at Mississippi State and played trombone in the Navy and college bands. He received a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State in 1951, the first in his family to reach that milestone.
While attending Mississippi State he met Mary Kerby on a blind date. He would later claim in fun that he had been fixed up with the "wrong good-looking, dark-haired girl from Columbus" but they dated throughout college and were married on March 18, 1951, in St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Columbus, Mississippi. Mary was a graduate of Mississippi State College for Women. Married for more than 58 years, they had a wonderful life together filled with adventure, laughter, and love.
Ed joined Thiokol Chemical Corporation's Huntsville Division in Huntsville, Alabama in 1951 and began his lifelong career in America's defense and space programs. In 1958, Ed was assigned to the Utah operations of Thiokol and was instrumental in the successful development and production of the Minuteman Stage I and Stage III rocket motors, one of the most important missile programs of the Cold War era.
In 1978, Ed was named Director of Marketing for Thiokol in Washington, D.C. and in 1982, he was appointed General Manager of Thiokol's Elkton Division in Maryland. In 1983, Morton Norwich and Thiokol merged to form Morton Thiokol, Inc, and he was appointed President of the Aerospace division.
Following the Space Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986, Ed relocated from Morton Thiokol headquarters in Chicago to Utah to personally direct the failure analysis and redesign of the shuttle's solid rocket propulsion system. In 1988 the Space Shuttle program returned to flight with the redesigned solid rocket motors built by Morton Thiokol.
In 1989, Morton Thiokol split into two publicly traded companies and Ed was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Thiokol Corporation. He was subsequently named Chairman of the Board of Thiokol Corporation in 1991. He retired in 1993, capping an incredible 42 year run with Thiokol. The Thiokol family and especially the friends and community in Brigham City, Utah, were an important part of his life.
Ed received many honors and awards during his life, including the NASA Public Service Medal, Distinguished Engineering Fellow of Mississippi State University, U.S. Air Force Commander's Award, and the Gift of Life Award from National Kidney Foundation.
During his early retirement years, Ed collaborated on his biography "Ulas Edwin (Ed) Garrison: A Family and Business History of an Aerospace Leader." The book captured his family background as well as the history of Thiokol and personal reflections.
Ed had many hobbies and interests, including skiing, photography, and his beloved golf-a game that he played regularly until a few months before his death. After retirement, Ed and Mary split their time between Utah and Scottsdale, Arizona where they were members of the Boulders Club as well as Estancia Club.
He and Mary endowed scholarship programs at both Mississippi University for Women as well as Mississippi State University. Ed also donated the Education Hall at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shephard in Ogden, UT, in Mary's honor where they were members.
Following Mary's death in 2009, he met Joan K. Gard of Mesa, Arizona and they had a happy and abundant life together, including travelling extensively, taking care of their beloved Labradors, and spending time with family.
In his later years, Ed was a super ager. He played golf, exercised on his treadmill, took the dogs for a walk, and worked out with a physical therapist well into his 97th year. He also kept up on the latest computer technology and gadgets. He was an early adopter of the Apple VisionPro at age 96 and kept ChatGPT busy with his many inquiries and follow-up questions.
He was a kind and warm man, with a highly intelligent and sharp sense of humor. Always ready with a funny comment or a pithy observation, he made life more fun for those around him. He cared deeply about his family and friends and always thrilled at meeting new people and sharing his wisdom, funny stories, and warm friendship.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary K. Garrison, his sisters Betty Wilson and Dora Lee Barks, and his parents Tom and Brazzie Garrison.
He is survived by his partner of the last 16 years Joan K. Gard.
He is also survived by his children: Dr. Thomas E. Garrison (Josie), Gina M. Young (James), and Michael J. Garrison (John), all of Scottsdale, Arizona. He leaves behind 5 grandchildren Benjamin Garrison (Camille), Jonathan Garrison (Jaclyn), Wesley Young (Catie), Alyssa Conway (Michael) and Sheridan Young as well as 7 great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the wonderful doctors, nurses and team at the Mayo Clinic, especially Dr. Michael Grover, and Hospice of the Valley for their kind and compassionate care.
Ed Garrison journeyed from central Alabama to the halls of corporate America and to the pinnacle of America's space program and made an indelible mark on the world and on his family.
Ed often remarked "we're here to play, not to stay" and he lived that every day. He brought his upbeat personality and enjoyment to every situation, exuding optimism and humor. In that spirit, a celebration of his extraordinary life and the wonderful person that he was will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 21, 2026. This is the perfect opportunity to cherish his memory and celebrate a life lived to the max.