Gary Dean Garrett

Gary was born on February 16, 1949, in Independence, to Floyd Sr. and Hazel Garrett. He joined the United States Navy as soon as he was old enough and served in the Vietnam War. While home on leave, he married Pamela "Momo" Garrett. They raised two daughters, Tiffany and Stephanie, and they were married until her passing in 2013.

After the Navy, Gary built his career at Castle Metals, where his coworkers elected him president of their union, and he later opened that same door for his son-in-law.

The water never let go of him. From the early Bayliner days to the Chris-Craft years at Truman Lake, his boat was where the family gathered, right down to the greased-up watermelon thrown in the lake for the grandkids to fight over. He also loved hunting, fishing and car shows, and there were always cats in the house.

He was a devoted father, in the driveway and in the stands for every game, and a grandfather who was simply always there. He pushed every one of us to be our best, and he had a soft heart he never quite managed to hide. His first grandson decided his sailor grandpa looked just like Popeye, and "Poppy" he became to every grandchild after: a man who loved big, laughed easily and always looked after his own.

In his later years, Gary found love again with his wife, Carolyn. Together they filled their home with cats and rode their Harley across the country, and she stood beside him and cared for him to the end. He beat lung cancer twice, and he spent the years he won on the people he loved.

Gary is survived by his wife, Carolyn; daughters Tiffany (Bryan) Galvan and Stephanie (Bruce) Giles; grandchildren Garrett (Marissa) Giles, Mackenzie Giles, Sydney Giles and Keeton Giles; great-grandchild Kaysen Myers; brothers Kenny, Louie and Ronnie Garrett; and sister Shirley Mawhiney. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Pamela Garrett; brothers Floyd Garrett Jr. and Charles Garrett; and sister Vicky Alsot.

A service with military honors will be held at noon on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville. Afterward, everyone is invited to join the family for lunch at Arcadian Moon in Higginsville. Grab a seat and order off the menu.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation at give.lungcancerresearchfoundation.org/GaryGarrett

Fair winds and following seas, Poppy. We love you.