Clyde Mack Garrison

He was born March 31, 1932, to Alida May and Carl Fletcher Garrison in the Valley Forge area of Elizabethton, Tennessee, where he lived throughout his childhood with his four siblings, CF, Marie (Matherly), Ray and Joyce (Broome).

Clyde was a proud U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, serving from 1951 to 1954 and stationed in both Lake Charles, Louisiana, and in Morocco, North Africa. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant with top secret clearance and was charged with receiving and maintaining classified documents throughout his service.

After an Air Force buddy bet Clyde a steak dinner that he would be married within a year of his service discharge, Clyde ended up having to pay the debt in 1955 when he married the love of his life, Joyce Dean Stout of Elizabethton. Both graduated from Elizabethton High School without knowing each other. But they met when he thumbed a ride home from East Tennessee State University, and the rest is history.

Clyde attended McNeese State College in Louisiana, and University of Connecticut in Storrs, before finishing his degree from ETSU in Business and Accounting. He was offered his first job as a field auditor with Travelers Insurance Company in Charlotte, North Carolina. Over the years, his promotions moved his family to Lenoir, North Carolina; Atlanta; Columbia, South Carolina; and back to Charlotte. He retired from Travelers as Manager of Accounting, Field Audit, Commercial Lines and Service for North and South Carolina after an almost 40-year career. Upon retirement, Clyde and Joyce Dean returned to their roots in northeast Tennessee, settling in Johnson City and quickly becoming members of Central Baptist Church.

Wherever he lived, Clyde displayed his servant’s heart. As a member of the Masonic Lodge and Rotary Club in Lenoir, he was passionate about finding ways to help others, especially children in need. Throughout his life he had an innate eye to identify the needs of others around him. Whether it was through an anonymous donation or a personal service, such as mowing the lawn of an ill friend for months or driving a friend to doctors’ appointments for years, Clyde’s compassion led him to help when he had the ability to do so. In the last years of his life, he was loving caregiver to his wife during her long illness.

He was a hands-on dad to his two daughters, bringing laughter and fond memories of building a playhouse, camping, fishing, playing board games and yard games, and teaching healthy competition and life lessons. He was a role model for tight friendships with his generosity, compassion and dependability. Clyde was a born storyteller. He was a practical joker, leading many to remind his wife often, “make Clyde behave!” Along with his wife, Clyde was the ultimate host, bringing together family and friends at annual holiday parties. He and Joyce Dean opened their home to church groups, foreign missionaries, friends of their children, and family who needed a place to live for a while.

Clyde was also a gifted “lawn ranger” with a perfectionist eye. He enjoyed planning and maintaining the yard of every home he lived in. A “Yard of the Month” often lived on his gorgeous lawns.

Heaven is richer with Clyde’s presence, and we know he is delighted to be reunited with his sweetheart.

He leaves a legacy of love, integrity and faith to those left to cherish his memory, including daughters Deborah Lowery of Johnson City, and Teresa (Stan) Sands of West Columbia, South Carolina; grandchildren Amy (Nick) Harrison of Kingsport, Caroline (Jarred) Light of Federal Way, Washington; Julie (Nick) Moran of Kingsport, Benjamin (Rhiannon) Lowery of Norfolk, Virginia; and great grandchildren Charlotte and James Harrison and Dean Moran of Kingsport. Clyde was aware of another great-grandchild due in November, Clyde Lowery, who will be named for him. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who remember his laughter and storytelling from the many Garrison gatherings.

Clyde’s family wishes to express deep appreciation to his caregivers at the VA, Abundant Christian Living and The Waters of Bristol. Clyde’s life was celebrated in a small family service at Mountain Home National Cemetery on the VA campus. He was buried there with his wife in a spot where their graves overlook the beloved ETSU campus where their love story began.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to Clyde’s memory be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children at: Shriners Children’s, Processing Center, P.O. Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394 or online at donate.shrinerschildrens.org.