Typed by: Jan Shelfer


GARRETT, EDWARD GUY, JR.
Surnames: GARRETT, VARNADO, BARGANIER, REDDING, DENARD, CRISWELL, CURTICE, COX

Edward Guy Garrett, Jr., b. November 11, 1918 in Marlin, d. June 26, 1983 in a hospital in Odessa, Texas and buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Marlin, Texas-was a son of Edward Guy and Hattie Alma (Varnado) Garrett, Sr.-both natives of Falls County. Through his father, he is a descendant of Republic of Texas pioneers; and his mother's parents came to Falls County in the 1880's.

Guy, Jr. was a 1936 graduate of Marlin High School and of the Class of 1940 at Texas A&M University-receiving a B.S. degree in marketing and finance, with a commission in the U.S. Army-Infantry Reserve, as a Second Lieutenant. After graduation, Guy, Jr. worked for Aetna Casualty and Surety Company as a special agent. After a year of training in 1941, he was employed in the Louisville, Kentucky office.

On June 22, 1942, Guy Jr. was married to Velma Price Barganier, b. October 7, 1920 at Cedar Springs, Falls County, Texas-a daughter of Guy Herman Barganier and his first wife, Cleo Sallie (Redding) Barganier.

Velma grew up at Cedar Springs-was a 1937 graduate of Marlin High School and a 1941 graduate of Texas Women's University. She taught school at Eddy, Texas; and in Marlin during the war. After a few years of rearing her family, Velma returned to the teaching field and served as head of the Civics Department of Marlin High School until her retirement in 1985.

On January 19, 1942, Lt. Edward Guy Garrett, Jr. was called to active duty in World War II-training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was sent to the European Theater where he served with the 7th Army in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxenburg, and Germany. On his release from the Army in 1946, he retired as a Major.

Guy, Jr. entered the farming and ranching business in Falls County, and taught at night in the Veterans Adult Agriculture Class for several years. He and Velma built their in Marlin. They were members of the First Presbyterian Church, where he became an Elder. He was elected Alderman of the Marlin City Council and was Mayor Pro Tem when he died. He served as President of the Board of Directors of the Corsicana Federal Land Bank Association, was a Director of the Stockholders Committee of the Houston Federal Land Bank, President of the Board of Water Control and Improvement-District One; and a member of the Falls County Beef Committee.

Guy helped organize and served as President of the Falls County Farm Bureau, was a Director and former President of the Marlin Country Club, a Director of the Texas A&M Band Association, a Trustee of Marlin Independent School District, and a Scout Master for the Boy Scout Troop sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Marlin.

In 1966, Guy was honored for distinguished service as one of the five most outstanding farmers and ranchers in the Limestone-Falls Counties Soil Conservation District.

Edward Buy and Velma Price (Barganier) Garrett, Jr. were the parents of three children:

Guy Gregory Garrett, M.D., b. January 20, 1947 in Marlin, Texas, was an outstanding student in the Corps at Texas A&M University, where he received his pre-med degree. He received his M.D. degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas. On June 7, 1969, he married Jennifer Lea Denard, b. October 6, 1946-a daughter of Charles Thomas and Pauline (Criswell) Denard of Marlin. Guy Gregory is a radiologist at the Odessa Medical Center Hospital, and he and Jennifer are the parents of two sons: Jeffrey Thomas Garrett, b. November 18, 1971 in Dallas; and Alan Gregory Garrett, b. September 7, 1975 in Dallas.

Gwendolyn Kay Garrett, b. February 3, 1951 in Marlin, Texas-receiving her B.A. degree at Texas Technological University in Lubbock, and her M.A. degree at the University of Houston. She has been an elementary school teacher at Deer Park in Houston, Texas for many years. She is married to Kolbe Curtice of Houston, who had a son and a daughter by a previous marriage.

Grady Bradford Garrett-Captain, U.S. Army, b. August 11, 1956 in Marlin, is a 1978 graduate of Texas A&M University and commissioned a Second Lieutenant at his graduation. He is a career soldier, and has served in Germany, at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Fort Sill Oklahoma. On July 30, 1978, he was married to Laura Louise Cox, b. September 17, 1956-a daughter of Daniel F. and Shirley Cox of Houston. "Brad" and Laura have one daughter, Allison Michelle Garrett, b. November 14, 1983 in Louisiana.

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing these bio of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County," compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 169, column 1.

Member of Falls County Historical Commission