Joe E. Garrett

GARRETT, Joe E., age 74 of Old Hickory, passed away Friday, October 1, 2010. Survived by his wife of over 50 years, Sue Garrett; daughter, Melissa (Mike) McNabb; son, Joe Garrett, III; grandchildren, Tara Adams, Cole, Logan and Blake Garrett; great grandson, Dallas Morris, II; special uncle, Ben H. Garrett; cousins, Mary (Bill) Graham and Ben (Christi) Garrett, Jr., Doyle (Shirley) Barnett; step mother, Laura Garrett; step sisters, Peggy Bates and Sandra (Roger) Holland; step grandchildren, Angel McCarver and Michael McNabb; step great grandchildren, Bailee, Winter, Hailey and Austin; caregivers, Nancy, Stacey and Gay. Funeral services will be conducted 1:30 p.m. Monday, October 4, 2010 in Hermitage Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jim Moran and Rev. Bill Graham officiating. Interment will follow in Hermitage Memorial Gardens with Logan and Blake Garrett, Jim Storey, Gregory McBrayer, Ed Anderson and Brad Carpenter serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack and Peggy Clark, Ferd and Connie Weil, Nancy Horn, Virgal Edwards, Mary Gnet, John McNiell and Bill Tisdale. Visitation with the family 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sunday and Noon. – 1:30 p.m. Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alive Hospice, Inc., 1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203. Condolences may be offered at www.hermitagefh.com. Arrangements under the direction of Hermitage Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Old Hickory, TN.

Biography

Joe was born on March 11, 1936 at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. His parents were Joe E. Sr. and Margaret Garrett. Joe was raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Even as a child, Joe had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention.Joe was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Joe experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in baseball. In his spare time he liked reading comic books and playing with friends.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Joe enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Joe graduated from West High School in 1954. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was reading.

Joe never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Joe to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Joe utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Bobby Hutcherson, Frank Willard, Billy Davis and Arthur Brown. Later in life, he became friends with Bill Tisdale, Wallace Nance, Sam Underwood, John McNeal, Jim Storey and Jack Clark. Joe loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

Joe was blessed with two children, a daughter, Melissa McNabb and a son, Joe E. Garrett, III. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Tara, Cole, Logan, Blake and one great grandson Dallas. Joe had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Joe's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Joe had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Joe was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. When dealing with various projects and problems, Joe was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Joe's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Joe as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was in the printing industry.

Joe was in the Air National Guard. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Sergeant.

Joe enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were golf and volunteering in the community. Joe was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Joe felt excited and challenged by sports. Joe loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Joe relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Joe never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included golf. Joe was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football and golf.

Joe had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Joe's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. In high school, Joe was a member of the R.O.T.C. Throughout his later years, Joe was an active member of the Jaycees.

A generous person who often wore his heart on his sleeve, Joe often found himself involved in activities he deemed important. He was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made him a natural volunteer. Outspoken in his beliefs, yet tactful in his dealings with others, Joe was a member of several community groups, serving on committees for the School for the Blind and Clover Bottom. Politically, Joe was a Democratic Committeeman.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Joe recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of First Baptist of Donelson for 20 years and Hermitage Presbyterian Church for 20 years. During that time, he was a teacher.

Naturally outgoing and generous, Joe was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Joe was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. One of his most prestigious awards included being elected JCI Senator.

It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. His favorite vacations included trips to Florida.

Joe was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Joe's favorites was a dog named Mister. They were best friends for 10 years.

Joe believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1999, Joe took it in stride as one more way to have fun. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Joe remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in golf. Even in retirement, Joe continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Joe passed away on October 1, 2010 at at his home in Old Hickory, Tennessee. Joe fought a brave battle against cancer of the mouth. He is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Melissa, son Joe E., III, grandchildren Tara, Cole, Logan and Blake and great grandchild Dallas. Services were held at Hermitage Funeral Home. Joe was laid to rest in Hermitage Memorial Gardens in Hermitage, Tennessee.

Joe brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Joe E. Garrett lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.