Eugene Caleb Garrity

Eugene C Garrity was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 5, 1918. He was the youngest of the four children born to Mary Lucinda and Patrick H Garrity. Gene and his mother left Utah after the death of his father and moved to a small town in Alaska. Although he was a very young boy, Gene worked hard for his Aunt Kate with her business and ran errands for the fur trappers and miners. When they moved to Seward he led newcomers on a walking tour of the town and explained the formation of the ice caves that were created by the winds and gravel that blew across the ice and snow. At age 10, he began his apprenticeship with Oscar Wotsjold at the local butcher shop. His first job there was sweeping up the sawdust at night and replacing it with fresh sawdust in the morning. He made deliveries with his dog and sled. He graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1937. There were 12 kids in his graduating class.

While visiting Salt Lake City in 1937 he fell in love with his childhood friend Nola Garrity. At a picnic at the Great Salt Lake, Nola Crowton walked back from the beach, Gene, looking totally star struck, ran out to meet her. They disappeared behind a sand dune for a minute or two. Walking hand in hand back to the picnic area, everyone knew that they finally realized that they were in love. Gene proposed via airmail in December and they were married in September 1938.

He continued to work in Seward after graduation with the thought that the business skills and training he learned were as valuable as a college degree. He had been offered a scholarship to the University of Utah, but he chose to marry Nola instead. Fredrick Dennis was born in October 1939. Patrick Harvey was born two years later. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Gene sent his family back to Salt Lake City where it was safer and closer to family. He remained in Seward to help train a replacement and to make sure his mentor and friend was not left in the lurch. He tried to enlist, but was classified as 4F due to a skiing injury. He rejoined his family in time for Christmas 1942.

During the war, he tried to enlist again, but by then his talents were needed to keep up the food supply for the armed services. He often worked 16 to 20 hour shifts in order to meet the demands. He was eager to do the work, but it was very difficult for him to stay stateside while so many of his friends were at war.

In 1946 their daughter Margaret was born. By then his talents as a meat cutter and his work ethic had caught the eye of the management at Cudahy Packing. He was given supervisory work before he was 30 years old. He was a general manager by the time he was in his early 30’s. He then went on to work at several plants, either newly acquired or losing money. He brought them all to full profitability and became an executive Vice President of the Head office in Omaha Nebraska.

In the 1968 he left Cudahy Packing and went to work for Hygrade Meats in Tacoma. He was offered a promotion that would take him to Detroit, but after living in 5 states, he felt another move would be too hard on the family. He then went to work as head of the meat division of West Coast Grocery. He retired in 1986 just before West Coast Grocery was sold to SuperValu Foods.

As a retiree, he traveled with his wife Nola to historic spots in the US, England, Ireland, Europe, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia. He and Mom enjoyed the warmth and beauty of their surroundings and had great adventures with their traveling companions.

Preceded in death by his beloved wife and firstborn son, he will be greatly missed by his children and numerous grandchildren and great grand children. Gene passed away on June 7, 2013.

Donations may be made to Franciscan Hospice Care, 2901 Bridgeport Way W, University Place, WA 98466