Chester Miles Garrett Jr.

Chester and Byrd Kincannon Garrett. He passed away after a brief illness on July 16, 2015. His

winning smile, selfless devotion to others, God, Family and Country is what people will always

remember about him.

As a member of the “Greatest Generation”, he proudly served in the Naval Air Corp from

1943 to 1946 as a dive bomber pilot. After the war, he completed his degree in Petroleum

Geology from the University of Tulsa, and married Helen Louise Duncan in 1946. He and Helen

Louise had three children, Richard Preston, Rebecca Louise, and James Gregory. Chet began

his career with Sinclair Oil, and later ARCO. He lived and worked in Tulsa, OK, Casper WY,

Billings, MT, Albuquerque, NM, Midland, TX, Calgary AB, and Algeria. He then settled in Austin,

TX where he took a job in Geological Research at the University of TX.

After retirement, he devoted himself to volunteer work. He was extremely active in two

Kiwanis Clubs, and was awarded Kiwanian of the year in 1999 and 2000. He was also an

active member of the Methodist Church, volunteered at the Alzheimer’s foundation and St.

David’s Medical Center where he received the Frist Humanitarian Award in 2008 "[for]

exemplary service to patients and the healthcare community..." He received the Spirit of

Compassion Award in 2009 from the Foundation for the Homeless.

Preceding him in death was the mother of his children Helen Louise, his second wife

Johnnie Deskin, Chet’s sister Dora Dean, and brother A. Earl.

He is survived by his sister Arleen Garrett Todd, children Richard Preston, daughter

Rebecca Garrett Holland, son-in-law Mark, son James Gregory and daughter-in-law Rachel, as

well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.