Mr. Garrett was a lifelong resident of Leeds, and he graduated from Leeds High School in 1947. During his high school years, Ray began working part-time with the U.S. Postal Service as a substitute mail carrier, and this would eventually lead to a career as a Rural Route Mail Carrier.
In 1950, he was called to service by The U.S. Army. He served in the Korean Conflict as part of the 45th Infantry Division, L Company. He attained the rank of corporal before he ended his service in 1952. Ray returned to Leeds where he became a full-time employee of the U.S. Postal Service.
He met Helen Grant McClain at a baseball game in the old mining town of Acmar, AL, and they married on June 20, 1953. Helen and Ray would live in Leeds for the rest of their lives. They were active in the community and raised their children there. They were married for 61 years until the time of Helen’s death in March of 2015.
Ray served as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Board Member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 229 for many years, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Leeds for years, and when he and Helen retired, he became a member of the First United Methodist Church of Leeds. Ray was actively involved in the work of both churches, and he enjoyed visiting with the elderly and shut-ins late into his life.
He loved the outdoors. Ray began hunting and fishing around Leeds in his childhood, and he was a lifetime member of Beasley Hunting Club in Sumter County, AL.
Ray and Helen began attending Auburn University Football Games in the early 1980s where they built a great group of friends that would drive their RVs to the Tigers’ games.
In his later years, Ray enjoyed spending time with his friends in the “Coffee Group,” going to the Leeds and Moody Masonic Breakfasts and the Dunavant Lunches.
He lived the last year of his life in the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City, AL.
The family would like to thank the workers of the VA Home for their care of our father and grandfather.
Ray is survived by his daughter, Martha Garrett Griffin (John), his son Mansell McClain Garrett (Michele), his granddaughters Mary Elizabeth Griffin (Spencer) and Annie McClain Garrett, his grandson Mansell Robert (Rob) Garrett, many cousins and friends.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, a private graveside service for immediate family will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at Forest Crest Cemetery.
The family asks that memorials be made to Leeds First United Methodist Church, or Backpack Buddies Ministry, 7833 Parkway Dr. SE, Leeds, AL 35094.
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