of Lee’s Summit, MO

June 14, 1930 - December 28, 2019

Alfred Oral Garrett, aged 89, was born June 14, 1930 in Clarksville, Arkansas and died December 28, 2019 in Lee's Summit, Missouri. A graduate of Clarksville High School, Clarksville, Arkansas, he left his family's farm and moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1950. He held a variety of jobs including tool and die making and real estate until he discovered he enjoyed retail sales. He worked at Mode 0'Day then moved to Sears where he became a department manager. He was at Sears for 34 years.

In 1954, Alfred married Joanne Cox on October 16th at The First Baptist Church in Clarksville, Arkansas. He said he first saw her standing in line during the eighth grade and thought she was the prettiest girl in school. They celebrated their 62nd anniversary in 2016 with remembrances of their first date, back in junior high, at the Peach Festival Ball.

Alfred was a man of God and served as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Grandview, Missouri. He became a Mason in the East Gate Lodge of Kansas City, Missouri in October 1976, then became a member of the Ararat Shrine Temple also of Kansas City in 1977.

As a man of many talents Alfred was very gifted. He built his daughter, Donna, an A-line playhouse with a balcony when she was little. Because Donna loved arts and crafts, he taught her how to build birdhouses, make candles, use a saw, do woodworking and wood carving, even teaching her brickwork and how to lay a brick patio. When Donna bought a house that needed a lot of TLC, he helped her paint, work on cabinets, lay tile and hardwood floors and put up a new chain link fence.

He loved fishing and hunting and wanted to travel the United States as much as possible. Over the years he had developed skills as a mechanic, carpenter, automotive and house painter and upholsterer to name a few. One day, Alfred purchased a potato chip company's van, extended it, and turned it into an incredible camper with all the comforts of home. In this camper he was able to take his family on sight-seeing vacations across the country as well as hunting and fishing trips for many years.

Both Alfred and Joanne developed an interest in genealogy often combining their enjoyment of travel and research on several trips. Alfred was very proud that several of his ancestors were patriots for the American cause. Many pioneered new territories, creating new paths into what would eventually become new states as our country grew.

He was preceded in death by his wife Donna Joanne Cox Garrett, his parents Taylor Clyde Garrett and Laura Catherine Dobbs Garrett, sisters Era Laverne Garrett Rofkahr and Johnnie Allene Garrett Calvin and a brother Billy Edward Garrett and is survived by his daughter, Donna Lynn Garrett of Lee's Summit, Missouri.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 11 am at Oakland Memorial Cemetery, Clarksville, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Hospitals for Children.

Arrangements are under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home, online guestbook available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clarksville

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