Obituary for Stella Garrison

Stella Lucille Garrison

(Died August 29, 2016)

Stella Lucille Garrison passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord Jesus on Monday, August 29, 2016 following many years of advancing Alzheimer's disease. She was 88 years old.

The graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 2, 2016 at Resthaven Memorial Park with Dr. Michael Taylor, First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are made under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.

Born Stella Lucille Spurling on February 21, 1928 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois to Ross V. Spurling and Birdie Rae (Little) Spurling, she was the youngest of three children. Some of her last and most deeply rooted memories were of her distant past as a young girl growing up in her childhood home in Mt. Vernon. She graduated from Mt. Vernon Township High School in 1945. On February 14, 1946, Stella married Ronald Eugene Garrison, shortly after his honorable discharge from World War II service in the U.S. Army. Ron and Stella relocated throughout the country while he worked as a systems test engineer for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, living in Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee, Colorado, California, and Utah. Throughout the years, along with raising their six children, Stella worked as both a department store salesclerk and a telephone operator for Bell Telephone Company.

Following retirement, she lived for many years in Menifee, CA and Round Rock, TX, near several of her children and grandchildren. After her Alzheimer's diagnosis, Stella spent a short time living in Ponca City with her son, Paul, before moving again to Round Rock, TX to spend her final years being lovingly cared for by her daughter Lisa, son Scott, and their families. Having been a young child through the Great Depression, Stella was well known for being very practical, but even more so, for her generous spirit and giving heart. She was a wonderful artist, and enjoyed drawing, painting, and gardening, as well as playing gospel hymns on the piano. Stella was a strong believer in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and taught all her children to have faith in Him. She loved her family fiercely, prayed for them diligently, and will be greatly missed.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ron Garrison, her sister Helen (Spurling) Leavines, and brother Ross Spurling Jr.

Stella is survived by her three daughters: Janice (Osbjorn) Bratene of Temecula, CA; Lisa Hatcher of Round Rock, TX; and Cari Garrison of Menifee, CA; and three sons: James (Glenda) Garrison of Morrison, CO; Paul (Ellen) Garrison of Ponca City; and Scott (Fernanda) Garrison of Round Rock, TX. She will be remembered by her 16 grandchildren: Jason (Laura) Garrison, Tanya (Tony) Samudio, Elizabeth (Neil) Soares, Christopher (Rachael) Bratene, David Bratene, Benjamin (Shonda) Garrison, Luke (Mary-Beth) Garrison, Bethany (Ryan) Buenconsejo, Levi (Courtney) Garrison, David Garrison, Bekah (Nate) Koch, Cianna Garrison, Danielle Garrison, Adrianne Garrison, Dakota Hatcher, and Nicolas Hatcher. Stella was also very proud of her 18 great-grandchildren: Savannah, Jasmine and Daniel Samudio; Lexi and Belle Soares; Jeremiah, Moriah, Samuel, Liora and Nathaniel Bratene; Liam and Isaac Garrison; Abigail, Micah and Samuel Garrison; Emmy and Logan Buenconsejo; and Claire Koch.

Source: Trout Funeral Home