Lucille "Lou" Marie Haas Garner

Lou was born on October 20, 1925, in Gramercy, Louisiana—the youngest child of Conrad and Marietta Haas. Lou grew up in Gramercy and graduated from Lutcher High School in Lutcher, Louisiana. She always wanted to be a nurse and serve her country. She received her RN certificate from Charity Hospital in New Orleans, following her two older sisters into the medical profession.

Lou’s goal to serve her country convinced her to join the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps and volunteer for an overseas assignment—in Puerto Rico. The military had other plans, and soon she was at Gorgas Hospital in Panama City, Panama. While in Panama she met Thomas C. Garner, a career military member assigned to the newly established U. S. Air Force. They were married on December 28, 1951, and honeymooned in San Jose, Costa Rica. From then on, it was “see the world”: Japan, Bermuda, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, New Jersey, Washington, and Illinois. After a long military career, they retired and moved to Richardson in 1984.

Lou’s only child, Joette, was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1954 and her only grandchild, Carley, was born in Arlington, Texas in 1989. Lou became Carley’s “full-time babysitter” and those were some of the happiest days of her life. Lou valued education and both of her “girls” became teachers. Joette is a retired teacher and school librarian from Grand Prairie I.S.D. and Dallas I.S.D., and Carley is currently a kindergarten teacher in Grand Prairie I.S.D.

Lou was an incredibly selfless person. She never wanted anything for herself—only for those around her to be loved and taken care of. She was an extremely hard worker, both as a registered nurse and a homemaker. She never missed an awards ceremony, game, school open house, or dance recital. Lou loved her family, the color lavender, going to the beauty shop, red lipstick, German chocolate cake, watching the Dallas Cowboys, jelly beans, family vacations, working in the yard, and playing Canasta. However, her Catholic faith and belief in Christ were at the center of who she was.

Lou is survived by her husband of 71 years, Thomas Claiborne Garner, Jr. of Richardson; her daughter Joette Garner Cook of Grand Prairie; her granddaughter Carley Joette Cook Sullivan of Grand Prairie; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded by her parents Conrad and Marietta Haas; her sisters Carmen Haas Mabus and Rosabelle Haas Drusch; and an infant brother, Nemours Haas.

Memorial services for Lou Garner will be held on Tuesday, January 10 at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery at 11:30 AM.