James Royal Garrison

GARRISON Mr. James Royal Garrison, age 75, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer, Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at the Eaton Community Palliative Care Center, in Charlotte, Michigan. James was born in Albion, Michigan, to Royal Brown Garrison and Georgia Alberta (Hahn) Garrison on April 15, 1939. He attended Albion schools, graduating from Washington Gardner High School in 1957. He played trombone in the marching band and had a lifelong passion for music, especially jazz to the point where he talked his way out of being removed from college for playing recordings of jazz at the college radio station. He then went on to study pharmacy at Ferris State University, earning his BS in 1961.

James was a member of Battery B, 109th Artillery, serving his country for three years and receiving an honorable discharge. He served as a registered pharmacist in Battle Creek and Coldwater. He and his father then purchased the former Hawes Drugstore in Albion, which became Garrison Pharmacy in 1964. James served on the vestry of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Albion, and he was also a lay leader. James was a member of the Albion Jaycees, becoming and “exhausted rooster” in 1970. One of his passions was sports, having called color for the broadcast of basketball games of Albion Senior High team and the team of Albion College. Theater was among his many interests, having acted in productions for Albion Community Theater, Marshall Civic Theater, Jackson Community Theater, and Clark Lake Players.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of nearly 52 years, Diane (Lindner); two daughters, Mary G. (Sanjit) Shah and Marjory Anne G. (Rodney) Sanford; and three grandchildren, Mina Grace Shah, Vikram George Shah, and Chloe Victoria Sanford.

Cremation has taken place, and funeral services will be held at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 119 W. Erie, Albion, Michigan, at noon on Saturday, January 10, 2015. A luncheon will follow in the parish house. His family welcomes memories and messages in their guest book online at www.kevintiddfunderalhome.com

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of James may be made to St. James’ Episcopal Church; Eaton Community Palliative Care, 2673 S. Cochran Rd., Charlotte, MI 48813; or Humane Society of South Central Michigan, 2500 Watkins Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49015.