Bill Garrison

1939 - 2023

Bill Garrison

July 17, 1939 - March 31, 2023

Bill Garrison peacefully entered his heavenly home on March 31, 2023, at the age of 83. The care of his final arrangements has been entrusted to Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service of Sand Springs. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on May 9, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Prue and officiated by Reverend Gary McDevitt. Following the service, Bill will be laid to rest at Woodland Memorial Park in Sand Springs.

Bill was born in a little home nestled in the woods by Waresha Creek in Prue, Oklahoma. He was the 8th and final child of Ben and Claudia (neé West) Garrison. He graduated from Prue High School in 1957, but not before meeting the love of his life, Rama Raye Henley, in the 4th grade. They were united in marriage on September 5, 1959, at Prue Baptist Church. They lived together with their children in Tulsa, Sand Springs, Lubbock, Plano, and The Woodlands before settling in Napa, California, in 1985.

Throughout their 63 years of marriage, Bill was a devoted and unwavering husband. He was also a remarkable, supportive father who never missed an opportunity to support his family, whether that was in the stands at the little league baseball game, coaching youth soccer or teaching them to ride a bicycle. While he may have (briefly) dozed off during a few school plays, he was always there to cheer them on.

While his childhood dream may have been to be a fur trapper in Alaska, his logical & caretaking instincts turned him elsewhere. After his parents moved back to Arkansas when he was 16, he got a job as a janitor at the high school. His time was spent fishing (his favorite thing to do) and working to save up and support his future wife and family. Eventually, he got a job at Boulder Bank before moving on to Gulf Oil. Bill worked hard, receiving many promotions along the way, eventually retiring from Chevron after a long and successful career as a Financial Analyst and Division Credit Manager.

Bill put people at ease. He knew what to say when to say it. He was funny, courteous, and kind. While he may not have been known for his patience, he was known for his generosity. You never needed to ask how he felt about you because he always made sure you knew. He told you through a ham breakfast plate in the morning, the dark-thirty drives to the airport, and the sacrifices he made every day to make sure you were happy.

He never sat still. He loved to golf, fish, and snow ski. On weekends, he would fish at 5 a.m., golf at noon, take a nap, and then hit the lighted course in Tulsa for another round of golf. Between all of this, he still made time for both family and volunteer work. He was on the board of the Circle Oaks Water District for many years.

Bill was baptized at Prue Baptist Church, but also attended various Protestant Christian Churches throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings; and his son, Bret Garrison. He is survived by his loving wife, Rama; children, Valinda Garrison and Eric Garrison; grandchildren, Tazmin Grace, Olivia Garrison, Victoria Garrison-Gunell, Marcus Gunell, Greta Gunell; and great-grandchild, Miko Grace.

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