Born May 4, 1946 rejoined his Heavenly Family October 16, 2019 Survived by his devoted wife of 39 years, Janice Garrett, Daughters Tessa VanVuuren, and Lesli (Shane) Anderson, Grandchildren Kyle, Olivia, Isabella, Sofia, Camilla, David, Marissa, brother Earl (Kamlynn) Poteet, and three adorable cats (Cheyenne, Spirit, & Sage) Preceded in death by his Father Alva Garrett, Mother Lucille (Garrett) Poteet, Step-Father George Poteet, Brother Glen R. Garrett, Sister Linda S. (Garrett) Davenport. Graduated From Pueblo South High School 1964 From 1965 to 1967 Les worked part-time and went to college at Southern Colorado State College before joining the navy in 1967. He enlisted and Served in the U.S. Navy 1967-1972 where he served aboard the U.S.S. Pine Island (AV-12), the U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CV-14), PCF-73 (Swift Boat), and as a U.S. Navy instructor assigned as an instructor to the VNN in Saigon, Vietnam. Graduated from the Southern Colorado State College in 1975 with a degree in Geology. Lester joined the U.S. Navy in 1967. He served aboard a Seaplane Tender, an Essex-Class Aircraft Carrier, and Swift Boats as well as being assigned to Saigon. He was very proud of the fact that he was a Veteran of the Vietnam War. While he never spoke much about what happened while he served on Swift Boat duty in the rivers and canals of Vietnam, he was very proud of the fact that he completed Level C of SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training. He earned a Purple Heart for a wound he received during a firefight on a river while on patrol on board PCF-73. Les loved rocks, so it was only fitting that he became a geologist. He was an accomplished businessman who utilized his geology degree into a highly successful career in the oil and gas industry and was well respected by his peers for the next 40 + years. Of all the areas of life that Lester excelled in, perhaps his greatest accomplishment came in the charity work he did in the Denver area, and throughout the state. He became an advocate for many in the AA community at the Dragon’s Den in Denver. Les and his comrades and business associates also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through the co-creation of an annual Golf Tournament in Denver, which he helped start with Jim Beatty of Pueblo in 1987. This tournament, which became the Denver Firefighters Charitable Foundation/ Children’s Burn Camp Golf Tournament, continues every September to this day. Les was honored for his contributions to this annual event at the 2018 tournament. Lester loved sports in which he had participated during his youth and adult life. He excelled in basketball, baseball, and softball during his playing days. He followed the Colorado professional sports teams as well as the local high school teams with great interest. Lester loved life and sharing that life with his family and friends. If you knew Les, you knew that he shared his passion for life with everyone he came into contact with and if you were a friend or relative of his, then you knew there wasn’t anything that he wouldn’t do for you. If you were fortunate to know Lester, you indeed had a good friend for life. Lester David Garrett was the best husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother-in-law, counselor, and friend that anyone could ever wish for. There were so many people whose lives he touched in his 73+ years on this earth, and he will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Imperial Funeral Home.
