Allen Garrett

Allen L. Garrett, 84, died on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at home with his family present. He was born in Winter Haven, FL on March 3, 1940 to J. Lewis and Mavis Murphy Garrett.

Growing up in Bartow, he explored the Peace River wilderness, developed new hibiscus species, hunted, and fished with his extended family. At the University of Florida, he joined the Kappa Alpha Order and met his future wife during his sophomore year at a KA party. Allen heard her say she was from Englewood, FL and he immediately interrupted the conversation because his family regularly visited Englewood on fishing trips.

After graduating from UF, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport RI courtesy of the U.S. Navy - an unexpected event as his plan was to attend UF Law School. Shortly after graduating from OCS, he married his college sweetheart, and their home for the next 3 years would be in Key West while he served aboard the USS Claud Jones (DE-1033) during the Cuban Missile Blockade.

A Letter of Commendation was earned when Allen, while serving as Officer of the Deck on the year's coldest night in Key West, jumped overboard to save a shipmate attempting suicide. It was an honor to serve his country, and he was forever grateful to the Engineering Crew who knew far more about the workings of the ship than he did. His UF Political Science degree was of little help.

Bankers Life Company's Tampa office sent him for training to Des Moines to be a Group Insurance and Pension Representative. Walking 9 blocks to work in 19-degree weather was an experience for a third-generation Floridian! Later, he was a Vice President at the Florida Administrators Inc.'s Tampa office. While working there, some of his groups purchased a vision care plan. Allen liked the product and the benefits it offered so he became their salesperson. As his sales increased, he took over the entire operation. Under his leadership as President, Florida Vision Care became very successful with statewide salesmen and a large Tampa staff.

He was an Eagle Scout, a member of Palma Ceia Methodist Church, the Lemon Bay Historical Society, and a past president of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum. Allen retired at 56. As a Florida Aquarium volunteer, he shared his wildlife knowledge.

Election Day would find him as the Deputy at St. Mary's Episcopal Church's voting precinct. Teaching his grandkids fishing and table tennis skills, watching them perform at singing or sporting events, spending holidays with family in Englewood and watching Gator football was always fun.

He was willing to stand for hours holding a cast net at the ready to catch mullet for Historical Society events or just to sit holding a rod waiting for a bite. Family members would tell Allen their favorite colors and he would make a fishing rod for them tediously wrapping the eyes onto the rods.

Allen was predeceased in death by his parents and sister, Jeanette Gatje. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Carol Tate Garrett, son Tate Garrett (Wendy), daughter Stacy Disler (Don), grandsons, Trey and Quinn Hemond and granddaughter, Sophie Garrett.

There will be no public service. Donations to Lemon Bay Historical Society, P.O. Box 1245, Englewood, FL in his memory would be greatly appreciated.