too many other names we can’t print, was born July 13, 1943, in Paducah, Texas. We lost
him in this world on April 1, 2021.
Raised most of his life in Dalhart, Texas, Mike graduated from Dalhart High School in 1961
as a member of the mighty Golden Wolves and his love of sports was born. Mike attended
college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he was a proud member of the
Rangers football team. He received his Master’s Degree at University of North Texas.
All who knew him agree the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweet bride, Cheryl Barber, in Dalhart, Texas in 1966. And while we knew he loved coaching, he would say that being a Dad, Husband and Grandpa was really his best role of all. He truly loved Cheryl and was a proud dad to Leslie Brooks, Jay Garrison and Jeffrey Garrison. But he loved his kids even more when they made him a Grandpa and Papa Mike. He burst with pride over Jayli, Baylie, Jayce, Kaitlyn, Jaxson and Luke. He became their favorite Coach and they were his biggest joy.
He began his coaching and teaching career in Central Junior High and Trinity High School in Euless and then made coaching stops in Liberal, Kansas, Kermit, Spearman, Plainview, Friona, Odessa, Midland Lee, Abilene Cooper, Willis, Humble, Lubbock Monterrey, Euless Trinity, Kingwood and Willis. The other coaches became family, life-long friendships were built and he remembered every single player he ever coached. Mike’s legacy as a Coach and mentor will remain as a special award is given to an outstanding football player each year in his name at Willis High School.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Vera Garrison. He is survived by his wife Cheryl Garrison, daughter Leslie Brooks of Montgomery, sons Jay and wife Kristi Garrison of Willis and Jeff Garrison of Lewisville. Grandchildren Jayli Garrison and Jayce Garrison of Willis, Baylie and Kaitlyn Brooks of Montgomery and Jaxson and Luke of Aubrey, Texas. And he was a giant to several cousins, precious in-laws and a posse of nieces and nephews that he lovingly harassed on a regular basis.
Mike was a magnet for friendships. He kept in close touch with his College Football Teammates, his large Coaching Family, his Buffalo Wild Wings Bunch, his rowdy golf groups in Bedford and Willis and his Highland Hills neighborhood Crew. He had an abundance of former and current athletes who were positively impacted by his wisdom. And if you were in his life, in any capacity, you were the recipient of a nickname, whether you knew it or not.
Mike loved his family and friends, he loved sports and he loved playing golf. Going to the beach in Galveston was his happy place. Football was his passion and anytime he was on the field…as a player, coach, teacher, Dad or as a Grandpa, he was in heaven.
He leaves a gaping hole in our hearts, but we find comfort that he is now truly in heaven with those he loves. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to either the First Presbyterian Church, 2727 SH-336 Loop, Conroe, Texas 77304, who provided him such comfort or to one of your favorite local sporting organizations that exemplifies his lifelong love of sports and youth education.
