Sara Lee Garrett

Sara Lee Garrett, 100, a resident of Tyler, passed away in her sleep on Friday, July 3 after a brief illness. She was surrounded by loving family. Born on July 24, 1925 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Sara was the daughter of James and Helen Garrett. Sara was educated at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in Spanish. She also earned a master’s degree in history and political science from the University of Arizona.

Sara was preceded in death by her one sibling, her brother Raymond Garrett, also from Tyler. She is survived by her sister-in-law Flo Garrett of Tyler; her nieces Carol (Mark) Swanson of Tulsa, Susie (Keith) McCullough of Tyler and nephew Robert (Lori) Garrett of Richardson. She’s also survived by many great nieces and great nephews…….too many to count. In addition, Sara was preceded in death by her close friend and traveling partner Victor Miron.

Sara lived most of her adult life in Little Rock or North Little Rock, Arkansas. In addition to the family members and Victor Miron mentioned above, Sara had many close friends in Little Rock….too many to mention, and many had preceded in her in passing. However, Sara’s heart was forever young, and she had friends of all ages. A special thanks to good friends Mary Jane and Drew Hodges, and the entire Miron family. These friend’s love for Sara was endless and she felt the same way for them. They were family to her.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience". This sums up Sara’s life to the fullest. Sara loved to travel from an early age, and never stopped. She went to all of the US states, and probably over 50 countries and most of the continents. She was comfortable traveling with a group or by herself. An avid reader and independent thinker, she epitomized the ideals of lifelong learning. She frequented the public library and attended summer sessions at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, as recently as 2019.

She worked over 40 years at a division of Johnson and Johnson in Little Rock as an executive secretary. Before that, she taught history at an all-girls school in Salem, North Carolina.

Sara was a long-time dedicated member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in North Little Rock, Ark. She had a big heart for those going through tough times. As a girl growing up in depression era Shreveport, she saw her mother hand out food to homeless people wandering through town looking for handouts. This made an impression on her that she remembered her entire life.

Sara was a special friend, a special sister and sister-in-law, and a very special aunt. She and her sister-in-law Flo had known each other over 70 years, and really were like sisters themselves. Sara will be missed so much. But she had a long, wonderful life.

A big thanks to Home Aide caregivers, Hospice of East Texas and Primrose Assisted Living for the excellent care provided by their caregivers and nurses.

The private graveside service and inurnment will be at a later date at Cathedral in the Pines Memorial Garden, Tyler, Texas. Memorials may be made to the East Texas Food Bank, or St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4106 JFK Blvd. North Little Rock, AR 72116. Arrangements are by Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler.