He was a resident of Jennings until 1969 where he graduated from Jennings High School in 1952. Garrett attended Loyola University and graduated from the University of Houston in 1954 with a B.S. in Pharmacy. He served in the United States Army from 1954 until 1956. After he married Juno on August 11, 1954, Garrett finished his time in the Army and worked as a pharmacist until opening his own drug store in Jennings in 1958. He moved to Westlake in late 1969 after buying Keller's Pharmacy which then became Caraway's Pharmacy. The pharmacy was doubled in size in 1976 and has been serving the community of Westlake for the last 55 years. Garrett worked and remained active in the pharmacy until the year 2009.
June 24, 1977, Garrett was the first permanent deacon to be ordained for the Diocese of Lafayette by the Most Rev. Gerald Frey. Three years later, the Diocese of Lafayette was divided into the Lake Charles and Lafayette Dioceses and Garrett remained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Lake Charles. During his diaconate, he served at St. John Bosco Catholic Church for 46 years assisting at Mass, funerals, baptisms and sacramental marriages. He also served on the parish council, building committee, Knights of Columbus, and bazaar committee. The ministry closest to his heart was serving the weakest among us, the unborn and infirmed.
Garrett served as the diocesan pro-life coordinator for many years. He also served on the board of directors for New Life Counseling for over 20 years. In this time, he gave pro-life talks to the youth, he led prayer intercessions for those in danger of being aborted and raised funds for the needs of those rescued from abortion and their parents. Garrett visited and brought communion to the sick and hospitalized almost daily for years and years after retirement from the pharmacy.
His passions in life were flying small engine planes, fishing and hunting with buddies and family, and taking his family on adventurous trips to the mountains and beach. Garrett most of all cherished time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren, always coming up with fun and slightly dangerous games with high levels of competition involved. If the games were shut down by the wise and cautious (Mama), then there were always scary stories to be told.
Those left to cherish his memory are his sons, Julius Garrett (Bubba) Caraway III and wife LaDonna Ange Caraway of Lacassine and Kelly Marlin Caraway and wife Denise Pettijohn Caraway of Angel Fire, NM; daughters, Evette Renee' Caraway Ange and husband Sam Ange Jr. of Westlake and Danee' Athe' Caraway of Westlake; grandchildren, Rev. Trey Ange, Asa Ange and wife Dru Starkovich Ange, Hade Ange and wife Sarah Cannon Ange, Davin Ange and wife Kristen Bahnsen Ange, Quentin Ange, Kamon Ange and wife Catherine Delahoussaye Ange, Inez Elise Ange Carrier and husband Stephen Carrier, Jaina Ange Dalton and husband John Dalton, Julius Garrett Caraway IV and wife Erin Guillory Caraway, Barbara Caraway Harrison and husband Patrick Harrison, Katarina Caraway, Rev. Joseph Caraway, Audrey Caraway Pousson and husband Luke Pousson, Ariel Caraway, Ethan Caraway and wife Elizabeth Clausen, KC Caraway and wife Marcia Solomon Caraway, and Avery Caraway; and 34 great grandchildren.
He is also survived by his brothers, Maurice Caraway and wife Kathleen Caraway and William Kent (Bill) Caraway, Sr. and wife Betty Ann Caraway; sisters, Deneze Caraway Bellenghi and husband Bob Bellenghi and Mary Ann Caraway Delahoussaye.
He is preceded in death by his parents Jeanne Houssiere Caraway and Garrett Caraway, Sr.; and late wife of 57 years, Janet Fay (Juno) Caraway and sisters, Jeanette Caraway Miller and JoVita Caraway Player.
The family will welcome relatives and friends at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Westlake on Friday, March 15, 2024 beginning at 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with scripture service and rosary to be held at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024 with a rosary at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at New Bethany Cemetery at St. Charles Retreat Center in Moss Bluff. Officiating the services will be: grandsons Rev. Joseph Caraway and Rev. Trey Ange along with nephew Rev. Michael Caraway and also Rev. Jeffrey Starkovich.
To honor Deacon Garrett Caraway in the season of Lent, in lieu of flowers please make a donation to New Life Counseling, or send cash or a check to: P.O. Box 3223 Lake Charles, LA 70602 made out to DOLC, attn: Cassie for the seminarian burse of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Caraway, Jr.
