Florence "Rusty" Keeton Garrison

Florence "Rusty" Keeton Garrison passed away on Thursday, the 21st of November 2013. She was beautiful and loving and will be greatly missed by all who loved her and were fortunate enough to know her.

When Rusty swept into a room, everything seemed to brighten with her vivaciousness and genuine interest in others. She made friends everywhere she went and excelled at everything she tried. No roles, however, were more important to her than those of wife, mother and grandmother.

A proud and lifelong Texan, Rusty was born the 10th of November 1922, in Pendleton. She was the daughter of a Baptist minister, the Reverend George Forehand and his wife, Eupha, who raised her primarily in Temple. She was only sixteen when her mother died, an age when most young women depend heavily on their mothers' guidance. Rusty, however, never voiced self pity and instead helped her father by taking over the household duties while juggling school and homework. She graduated in 1940 from Temple High School where she won the district oratory contest and was voted class favorite by her senior classmates. Rusty went on to study voice and piano at Mary Hardin Baylor College and then to pursue a fine arts major at The University of Texas.

Her first husband, E.R. "Buster" Keeton, Jr., once head yell leader at Texas A&M, was a handsome, self-made dynamo who spotted his future wife in a parade and immediately set about wooing her away from her then fiancé. They married in a military wedding in 1942 at Fort Hood where Buster was a U.S. Army captain. Her vibrant red hair inspired Buster to call his bride Rusty, a nickname she happily adopted for the rest of her life.

The outbreak of World War II soon separated the young couple as Buster, a member of the Signal Corps, joined the Normandy beach landing in France on the second day of the Allied invasion of Europe. He engaged in some of the war's most brutal combat in places such as St. Lo. Throughout, the couple exchanged frequent letters filled with their love for one another and their hopes and plans for their future after the war. When Buster's European combat ended, the couple thought his duty serving his country was safely over, but instead he was shipped to the Pacific where he was seriously wounded on the Japanese island of Okinawa. They suffered the further devastating loss of their baby daughter, Diane.

The couple moved to Houston in 1946 where Buster recuperated and Rusty continued studying music at the University of Houston. She was a gifted soprano from childhood on and performed in concerts, as well as in Community Playhouse and University of Houston productions. She appeared on local television and hosted her own music program on a Houston radio station and sang lead in the Summertime Light Opera Company. She also performed with the Houston Symphony Chorus. Rusty belonged to the Tuesday Music Club and was a soloist and a member of various church choirs for decades.

She was a self-described "doer" who tirelessly devoted herself to activities and organizations that improved others' lives and benefitted her beloved Houston. As their family grew to include two sons and two daughters, the devoted parents somehow made time to serve as superintendents and teachers of the junior high department of River Oaks Baptist Church for 15 years. All the while, Buster was growing his own electrical contracting business, Gulf Electric Company, achieving such success that he learned to fly and bought an airplane so he could expand his company's reach. Named Outstanding Young Houstonian, Buster was featured as the cover subject of Life Magazine in an article about exceptional entrepreneurs in Texas.

Rusty continued her own leadership path, serving as president of the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) of both Grady and T.H. Rogers schools, and as president of The Women's Institute, American Museum Society, Spain and Texas Society, Lakewood Yacht Club and Tanglewood Garden Club.

More out of pride in promoting a fellow Texan than in partisan interest, she helped organize the "Ladies for Lyndon" and attended the 1960 Democratic Conventions in Los Angeles, California. The women, outfitted in cowgirl hats, western wear and boots, charmed every delegate they could pigeonhole with reasons why Lyndon Baines Johnson should be their choice as presidential nominee.

At only 47, Buster died suddenly in 1965. Rusty quickly went to work to support her family as a teller at Southwestern Savings and Loan, where, true to form, she eventually became a branch manager and vice president.

In 1972, she met and married the second great love of her life, Ranald (Don) Garrison, a brilliant engineer and bookworm with degrees from Rice and Cornell Universities, who found himself traveling the world, making new friends, dancing and attending parties sometimes as often as five nights a week for the next 32 years with the younger wife he unabashedly adored. Don quickly became the beloved stepfather to Rusty's children and a generous and valued mentor who provided guidance wherever possible to his new family that grew to include in-laws and grandchildren.

Rusty continued to find ways to use her talents and to make the most of every minute. She volunteered as a member of the Blue Bird Circle, acting as secretary and vice president and also as chairwoman of the Blue Bird Clinic for Pediatric Neurology. She was a member of Women of Rotary, Daughters of the American Revolution, and a variety of social clubs. She was also a skilled tennis and bridge player and a consummate hostess who relished helping others enjoy themselves. Don died at age 98 in 2005, leaving Rusty to say, "I was lucky enough to have two wonderful husbands."

Survivors include her children, Ernest Richard "Rick" Keeton, III, and his wife, Sharyn Kane Keeton, David M. Keeton, Bonnie Keeton Coffman and her husband, Dr. Mark R. Coffman, and Roberta Jean "Robbie" Keeton Lowrey and her husband, E. James Lowrey, Jr.; four grandchildren, Allison Blanton Stasney and her husband, Spencer, Eddy Scurlock Blanton, Jr. and his wife, Meghan, Michael Keeton Coffman and his wife, Sarah, and Robert A. "Rob" Coffman; and seven adorable great-grandchildren: Charlie Stasney, Wynn Stasney, Beau Blanton, Cameron Blanton, Teddy Blanton, Caroline Coffman and William Coffman.

Rusty died at age 91 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Her family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the Forum staff, especially nurses Janese Couch, Geneva Dominigue and Juan Flores, and activities director, Gwen Mabray, whose resourcefulness brought music and fun into Rusty's last years.

In addition, the family acknowledges the kindness and devotion of Rusty's private duty staff provided by Ambassadors Caregivers. These include Nina Benoit, Kelsy Jones, Tiana Murray and Paula Starling. Amelia Cruz, who cared for Rusty the longest, braved the aftermath of Hurricane Ike to be by her side, evidence of the extraordinary regard Rusty inspired until the very end of her life. Rusty's passing was peaceful and now, at long last, she is at rest.

"I Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain, faith hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

The family is to gather for a private memorial service in the chapel of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, where Dr. Linda Christians, Executive Pastor, is to officiate.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, memorial contributions in Rusty's name may be directed to the Blue Bird Clinic for Pediatric Neurology, 6501 Fannin St., Houston, TX, 77030; St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer, Houston, TX, 77027; and the Alzheimer's Association, 2242 W. Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030-2008.