On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, 66-year-old Myrna Marian Hall- Garbutt, better known to her family as “Myrns”, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully at home after a long battle with different illnesses. She was the baby of 11 children born to Emeline and Alexander Hall on January 8, 1957, in Corozal Town, Belize, Central America. She grew up in the little town of Carolina Village, Corozal. She attended Adventist Vocational College, where she met the love of her life, her soulmate, Carl Garbutt, Sr., in September of 1969. Here is where her beautiful love story began.
Myrna was the first girl Carl laid eyes on when he started High School. They were friends for five years until Carl became her escort at their High School prom, where the flames sparked. Myrna and Carl dated for five years before they tied the knot on June 24, 1979. They honeymooned in the United States and moved to Monkey River Village to start their life as husband and wife.
Myrna and Carl were Seventh-Day Adventist Christians. Carl was a fisherman, and Myrna was a teacher. They have always started their day with prayer and family worship. Something that was an essential part of their daily lives as a couple and raising their family. After a year of wedded bliss, on October 28, 1980, they welcomed their first baby girl Keisha into the world. Myrna then became a full-time mother and homemaker. But it didn’t prevent her from being Carl’s helpmeet. Together they worked hard to build a home and a life of happiness, honesty, respect and love. Their home was a place where God lived.
On January 20, 1983, God blessed their home with Carl Jr. and on January 5, 1985 Kendra made her big debut. She would have had one more child, but unfortunately, the baby didn’t make it. Carl Jr. and Kendra completed the family, bringing much more joy and love to the home. Carl and Myrna lived with their family in Monkey River for 12 years until their children were ready to attend High School when they moved to Independence “Mango Creek” Village. Carl and Myrna went into the business of Baking and a grocery store which was very successful and economically stable.
Myrna was committed to making life fun and exciting for her family and ensuring all their needs were met. Myrna was a planner. She planned countless vacations with her family to Garbutt’s private island Nicholas Caye, Corozal, Belize City, Chetumal, Guatemala, Puerto Barrios, Melchur, Cayo, and Miami. She created so many beautiful memories over the years. Myrna was not a swimmer, but some of her favorite vacations were those at Nicholas Caye. She loved the peace and tranquility she felt when she visited the beautiful island with its sandy beaches. She loved building a shelter with Carl using coconut leaves or relaxing in a hammock. In August 2001 they migrated to the United States and made their new home in Houston, Texas.
Carl started as a plumber and shortly after invested in his own trucking company “Bel-Tran Trucking” which is now jointly owned with Carl Jr. Myrna attended school with her sister-in-law Sheena where they graduated as CNAs. Carl, Myrna and their kids worked together to make ends meet. Myrna worked as a CNA for a short time, she was a babysitter in her home for a while, then went into the business of making bun and bread to sell. Myrna was a fantastic cook who made enough to feed her family and anyone who visited her home. She did all her cooking with her own recipe. Friday was preparation day for Sabbath.
She made it a tradition to have fresh homemade bread or bun with stewed beans and baked chicken or turkey for her family as their Friday meal. This is a tradition she kept until she took her last breath. All her children and their families were invited to eat religiously on that day. If a visitor came, they were always offered to partake. Any family or friend of her husband and children, or friends of a friend, were received into her home with open arms. She always had enough and extra of EVERYTHING! Her doors were always available to anyone in need, whether it’s a room for the night, clothes to wear or food to eat.
Myrna was dedicated to everything she did. Her motto in life was to live well, laugh often and love more. There were so many things she loved, and it was evident in how she lived. First and foremost, she loved Jesus. She had a personal relationship with Him and never started or ended her day without praying. She loved to go to church, and she sang so beautifully. Together with Carl, they shared their love and blessed the hearts of others through so many messages in songs they sang together. Carl was her everything, as she was his. Every plan that was made, was made together or with each other in mind. Carl served her like a queen, and She served him as her king. Although she loved to cook, serving was not her favorite. So together, they made it a team effort. She cooked, and he served. Carl loved cooking and helping her. She never complained and enjoyed everything he prepared. If he made a sandwich, he would share it in two. If they needed another, he again shared it in two. They shared everything. Their love was a perfect reflection of the five love languages: they offered words of affirmation, shared quality time, honored acts of physical touch, 43 years of service to each other and gift-giving.
Myrna also adored her children. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t have done for them, or they for her. She made herself readily available for every need they had from childhood to adulthood. She was not only a wonderful mother but also a great listener and dear friend. When her children married, she embraced their spouses with love as if they were her own. Keisha made a family with her husband, Linval Jr.; they welcomed two beautiful kids, Tyler and Kayia. Carl made a family with his wife Cindy and welcomed three beautiful children Carl Gavin, Caleb and Cayli, and Kendra made a family with her husband Marc, and they welcomed two beautiful children Jordan and Jayson. When the grandchildren came, her heart expanded with love for each of them. They touched her heart in their own unique way. As the eldest grandchild, Tyler was her person to contact for help with electronic devices, and Kayia her eldest granddaughter was her afterschool companion. She would sit at the table daily after school and keep her company. Her other grandchildren were her little entertainers that always made her smile.
Some of Myrna’s sweetest passions were caring for children (she loved children, especially babies) baking, perfumes, lotions, sweet body powder, whistling to her favorite songs while she worked, cooking, and singing. Some of her favorite music was from Heritage Singers, Jim Reeves, Kenny Rogers, she especially loved, she's royal by Tarrus Riley (that's what she was to our family) and many more. She also enjoyed shopping and travelling especially with her husband and her older sister Roda. One vacation they enjoyed together was cruising. She also enjoyed sewing, laundry, and her favorite pass time, photography. She had a life well lived. She was known for her heart of generosity, selflessness, compassion, and humility. She was sociable, kind, analytical, pleasant, hardworking, loving, caring, thoughtful and always put the needs of others before her own. She would help and did it quietly and without fanfare. She was full of gentleness and wisdom in her words to everyone she had the pleasure of speaking to. She loved people with a passion; she wouldn’t hesitate to take the clothes off her back if she had to or feed the hunger with her last morsel. In her home she cared for so many: Pastors, Doctors, Teachers, Family, and many more. She would always say, “make yourselves at home. My home is your home”.
One of her fondest joys was family get-togethers. She loved to have family around. She wholeheartedly loved every one of her family members. She loved her nieces and nephews like her children. She could make everyone that came in contact with her feel like they were her favorite. She looked forward to her daily visits with Keisha, Tyler and Kayia and, from time to time, Linval Jr. On Friday, Carl, Cindy, Carl Gavin, Caleb and Cayli came for the traditional Friday dinner. It was a party when Kendra, Marc, Jordan and Jayson would visit from Florida. Carl, Myrna, their children, and their families built beautiful memories for years.
When Myrna started her cycle of illnesses in 2011, Carl and his children became her caretaker. Carl, Kendra and Roda spent many days and nights at the hospital while Myrna was being treated. When she came home, Keisha took up the role of caretaker to help Carl care for her. Carl Jr. held the fort with the business so Carl could be available to meet the needs of Myrna during her time of sickness. Their family bond and love were strong and strengthened even more when they had to work as a unit to care for Myrna.
Carl and Myrna lived a fruitful marriage. They always found comfort in the arms of each other and were an inspiration to many. This a perfect example of what a fantastic marriage should be. They shared a love that was pure and true. A love that was guided and managed by strong Christian values. Myrna dedicated her life to God, her husband and children, her family and everyone who knew her until the day God called her home.
Myrna leaves behind to mourn her loving husband of 44 years, Carl Sr., children, Keisha Henry (Linval Jr.), Carl Garbutt Jr. (Cindy), Kendra Garbutt-George (Marc), grandchildren Tyler, Kayia, Jordan, Carl Gavin, Jayson, Caleb and Cayli. Three sisters, Alvia Pitterson, Gloria Flowers, and Roda Smith (Jeff). One brother, Reuben Hall(Ellen) as well as beloved brothers and sisters-in-law cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Sweet Myrna, Go rest high on the mountain, for your work on earth is done! You’ve left an imprint on our hearts and in our lives. You are gone but will never be forgotten. Thank you for 66 beautiful years of love and dedication in everything you ever did. You will be greatly missed. Until we meet again in Heaven, may you Rest in Peace and Rise High in Glory. Myrns We love you!
The family will receive friends for Myrna Marian Garbutt 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Forest Park South Funeral Home. Mrs. Garbutt will lie in state from 9:00 AM until service time on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at World Harvest Outreach Church, Houston, Texas. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM until 1:30 PM on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at World Harvest Outreach Church, Houston, Texas. The committal service will be held 2:30 PM on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at Paradise Cemetery South, Pearland, Texas. The family will gather for the repass from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at World Harvest Outreach Church, Houston, Texas. Family is being assisted by Forest Park South Funeral Home 12650 Shadow Creek Parkway, Pearland TX 77584 (832)553-0160. Messages of condolence may be shared by visiting www.ForestParkSouthFuneralHome.com .
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