Alan Moore Garwood

On August 2, 2017, at age 91, at home, surrounded by family and friends, patriarch Alan Moore Garwood passed into eternal peace. Alan is survived by his four children: Alan Jr., Denise, Roger and Cheryl, thirteen grandchildren, and countless great-grandchildren.

Though born into modest beginnings, Alan endeavored throughout his life to provide for his family and others. Father and Friend, a child of the Great Depression, WWII United States Navy Veteran, Salesman, Farmer and Entrepreneur, Dad succeeded magnificently. Those early years of frugal living taught dad the value of hard work and self-enterprise.

Both Alan and his older brother Clarence R. enlisted to serve their country in time of great need. Alan's last Navy assignment was to return from Hawaii to San Francisco as part of the USS Steelhead crew.

Alan worked at various jobs and visited Hemet with Navy buddy Ukie where he eventually met his life's love, Norma Lee Polley. Nothing was ever easy for the new couple; one week before their marriage in 1948, dad was laid off from Fruehauf trailer. After a honeymoon trip to Painted Desert and Colorado, dad settled into a number of jobs as farm hand, door-to-door bread salesman, anything to make ends meet and get ahead.

In the late 1950s, dad moved his family out of the city to a better life farming in Hemet. After a number of years on Warren Road, dad was ready for a big time farming experience; we packed up horses, cows, equipment and household possessions and headed to Idaho, to a fifteen-hundred acre place near Raft River. We all have great memories of that time and those years.

Alas, in late summer 1965 a return to California found this family, struggling over Baker grade in an over loaded, over heating truck, destined back to Hemet. Finding shelter with welcoming friends, dad found work in Fontana steel plants and began to rebuild our lives. In 1970, dad found an opportunity in the form of a small sharpening shop. That shop is now known as Al's Kubota Tractors.

Dad has been a long time Lions Club member and has held various offices supporting that generous organization's programs. Dad always wanted to get a Model-A car. Cruisin A's Model-A Ford Club helped fulfill that desire and provided time to share knowledge and assist other members and to travel. With the Cruisin A's, Dad and Mom traveled the world in a stylish Ford Model A.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.miller-jones.com