GARRISON, Marion Emery
Date of death: 3 August 1952 Prince’s Lake, Johnson County, Indiana
Source: Franklin Evening Star, 4 August 1952
Continue Search
Today For Body
Of Store Official
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Emery Garrison
Drowns Sunday At
Prince’s Lake
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City, County, State
Authorities Are
At County Resort
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City, county and state authorities were still searching Monday afternoon for the body of Emery Garrison, 47, well-known Franklin business man and manager of the local Kroger store, who was believed to have drowned Sunday morning at approximately 4 a.m. at Prince’s Lake, 13 miles southwest of here.
Garrison fell from his rowboat about 25 yards from the shore near the dam at the East end of the main lake, one of a chain of seven at the southern county resort area.
On Fishing Trip
The victim was on an early morning fishing trip with his son Robert, 17, and two of the boy’s friends, when the boys heard a splash from near the boat and swam out but were unable to save Mr. Garrison.
The area where he was believed to have gone down is approximately 25 feet deep, but the Sheriff’s office reported there are dropoffs that range from 40 to 50 feet in depth.
Divers and search equipment from New Castle, Anderson, Shelbyville, Columbus, Camp Atterbury, Indianapolis and Greensburg are being used in search which has continued in shifts since the first report of the drowning.
An early morning 6 o’clock call to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center was sent today to request deep sea diving equipment and divers, but as of 2 p.m. they had not reached the scene.
Diving operations are being hindered greatly because of the presence of large tree, stumps and other debris at the bottom of the artificial lake.
Use Underwater Light
Searchers worked all Sunday night and early Monday morning, using an under water searchlight but to no avail.
Mr. Garrison was born July 27, 1905 in Bartholomew County, the son of John C. Garrison and Amanda Coy Garrison. He was married to Mildred Cooper on July 21, 1926.
Besides the son he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Betty Davis, 24years-of age, and a grand-daughter, Pamela Annett, in addition to a sister, Mrs. Merle Adkins of Columbus.
Mr. Garrison managed the local Kroger grocery store for 23 years and recently received his 25-year pin, for service with that company.
He attended Edinburg High School and was a member of the Tabernacle Christian Church, having served as a deacon. He also belonged to the Elks Club.
Source: Franklin Evening Star, 5 August 1952
Navy Diver Finds
Body Of Manager
Of Local Store
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Funeral Rites For
Emery Garrison To
Be Held Wednesday
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United States Navy divers from Great Lakes, Ill., today found the body of drowning victim; Emery Garrison, 47, well-known Franklin resident, 20 minutes before the search in a deep sea diving suit was to be abandoned at Prince’s Lake.
G.M. 1 Eddie Doherty, professional Navy diver, whose home is Newark, N.J., stumbled upon the victim’s body in 20 feet of water, where the visibility was zero at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday morning, three hours and 40 minutes after the search had been resumed today.
The recovery of the body culminated a 51-hour search which had begun at approximately 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning when Garrison fell from a rowboat while fishing and drowned despite the efforts of his son Bob, 17 and two companions, Harold Dillow of Franklin, and Hobey Cook, of Bargersville, to rescue him.
Heard a Splash
The group of boys had been standing on the shore when they heard a splash and cries for help from the boat approximately 50 feet off shore. The boys had called for Garrison to return to land and they heard him moving about the boat before the splash was heard.
It was reported that the Garrison boy was able to grasp his father twice but was unable to hold him. The boys, after further search, returned to Nineveh where they put in a call to Franklin for help. Military policemen from Camp Atterbury reached the scene first, followed shortly by the local authorities.
A professional diving team from Great Lakes arrived Monday afternoon at Atterbury Air Force Base by plane, after being summoned when all available diving equipment in this area proved insufficient.
The group, under the command of Lt. Comdr. R. D. Slagle, Hdq. Ninth District, began their search Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. after working through the night to set up the equipment.
Dr. Lt. (jg) R. B. Jennings, U.S. Hospital 13, Great Lakes; M. R. 2 Lonnie Johnson, naval diver whose home is Kansas City, Kans; and F. P. 1 R. P. Young, of Elkton, Ky., were the other Naval personnel who brought about the recovery of the body.
Engineers Build Bridge
They were aided greatly by the 106th engineers from Camp Atterbury who built a pontoon boat which held the 2,600 pounds of equipment necessary for the diving operation.
In addition, Sheriff Howard Maxwell, Deputies Garner Wood and Charles Shipp; Franklin Police officers, Chief Robert Samples, Captain Lee Sloan, Officer Ed Linneman, Officer Jack Moore; State Troopers Purcell, Normington, Torrance and Konkle; Provost Marshall Col. Saller from Atterbury and Game Warden, Ernie Fishel were at the scene of the tragedy during the three-day search.
Sheriff Howard Maxwell reported that a watch Garrison was wearing at the time of the drowning had stopped at 4 o’clock.
The body was returned to Franklin in the Flinn-Maguire ambulance at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Services Set
Funeral services will be conducted in the Flinn and Maguire mortuary at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon with the Rev. James T. Lawson, pastor of the Tabernacle Christian church officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 o’clock Wednesday morning until time for the services. They are invited to attend the rites.
Surviving with the widow are the son, Robert; a daughter, Mrs. Bettie Davis; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Garrison, of Edinburg; a granddaughter Pamala Annette; and one sister, Mrs. Merle Adkins, of Columbus.
Submitted by Mark E. Wirey