Warren Neal Garrett

Rev. Warren Neal Garrett was born April 21, 1933 to Wayne and Elizabeth Garrett in Plainview, Arkansas. This is where he would spend his childhood and teenage years. As a young adult he came to California, settling in Goshen California for a couple of years before moving to Hanford. On February 6, 1953, Warren joined the United States Marine Corps. Soon after joining the Marines he gave his heart to the Lord and realizing he could no longer take a human life, he became a military conscientious objector. For this reason he served time in the brig for his “faith stance”. He was released from active duty in the Marines on February 5, 1956, with obligated service until his honorable discharge on February 6, 1961.

Shortly after being released from the Marines, Warren found the love of his life Dorothy Cantrell. They were joined together in holy matrimony in Hanford, CA in May of 1956. They were married for 40 years until Dorothy passed from this life in 1996.

Rev. Warren Garrett held Ministerial Credentials with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) for 50 years. He also served as the Assistant Pastor to both Elder William H. Garrett and Elder Harvey C. Cantrell at First United Pentecostal Church of Hanford for approximately 30 years. He loved to study the Word of God, his favorite subjects being “The Oneness of God and “The New Birth”. He taught the teen class for many years and was also a great blessing to the church with his gift of music, playing guitar, steel guitar, bass fiddle, and drums. He never departed from his love of Blue Grass gospel music. The more Ozark Mountain “twang” it had… the more he liked it!

Warren worked for Safeway Milk Plant in Hanford, CA and retired from there after approximately 25 years. During these years he also became an avid outdoor sportsman. He loved fishing, hunting and camping. He loved the outdoors and took many of his friends and family on fishing trips. He enjoyed going out in his Glaspar fishing boat and finding that perfect fishing spot on the lake. He also enjoyed recreation days with the young people of the church. He was left handed (always had the mitt no one else could use) and enjoyed playing pitcher and first baseman in the softball games.

While ministering in Northern California, Warren met a lovely lady by the name of Laura. They began to correspond, fell in love, and in the summer of 1997, they were married. She fit into the family wonderfully and was soon endearingly known as Aunt Laura. After a few years Warren suffered a serious stroke and a short while later moved to Aunt Laura’s original home area in Rio Dell, CA. Here they attended the Rio Dell United Pentecostal Church. They later moved to Fortuna, CA and went to the Truth Tabernacle, Pentecostal Church where Warren continued his ministry of music and preaching. After a few years of declining health, Aunt Laura passed away in October of 2016.

With much assistance from his niece Darlene Garrett, he would move back to Hanford, taking up residence at the Remington Senior Living Center. He enjoyed his time at the Remington and all of the many friends that he had there.

He especially enjoyed the times when Darlene and Kathy would come to visit and bring their instruments. Warren always took part in these occasional family visits that included gospel singing and music to all the residents at the Remington. He would get a microphone, and sing along with his niece Darlene, while his other niece Barbara Cantrell played the piano and nephew Gaylen played the bass with Kathy on the drums. The resident’s appreciation was evident by the smiles on their faces as Warren sang along with the family.

As time progressed, Warren began to need more and more assistance for his activities of daily living, it was during these years that his niece Darlene became a great blessing in helping him manage the day to day affairs of life. Fortunately she was able to engage the help of several caregivers who truly made a difference in the quality of his life. They are listed here: Candi Scott, Denise Ricciuitti, Mia Baker, Monique Rosas, and Maribel Mendiola. He became family to them, and they loved him like family and took good care of him. Warren seemed to really love and appreciate his time living at the Remington. This was his home until he passed away on March 3, 2024. He is survived by his son, Waymon, grandchildren Billy, April and Troy, and several great grandchildren.