OK, this should be it for now.........
Dan Story 7: I flew up to visit Dan in Knoxville. Dan and his girlfriend, who I’d never met, were at the airport to pick me up. Well guess who that girlfriend was? Yep, you guessed it. It was the first time I met Sonja. I wanted to go hit a bar so off we went. While at the bar, there were these twin waitresses. They were messing with me without mercy as I did not know they were twins. I think Dan and Sonja were in on it as well. I got a little tipsy and the whole time I kept calling Sonja, “Tanya”. This became a joke between me, Dan and Sonja.  So, if you ever hear me call Sonja, Tanya, you’ll know why. By the time I left to go back home, I had determined Tanya was and still is a keeper. She’s a looker, has a great sense of humor, and could hang with Dan.

Dan Story 6: One time during college I went night snow skiing in West Virginia with Dan, Tom, Beth and I think a few other Radford folks. This was only the second time I had been skiing in my life, so I was mostly staying on the kiddy slope. During the day it had been relatively warm, and snow had melted and turned into ice that evening. I got my confidence up and took the chairlift up onto one of the grown-up slopes. I was getting a little too cocky and went a little to fast when I lost my balance and did a face plant into the ice. My gloves, poles, hat and glasses went flying in many different directions. When I rolled over and looked up, Dan was in the chair lift directly above me looking down and shouted, “Good one Beeves!”. Perfect timing. The ski patrol came over and checked me out to make sure I wasn’t dead. I took one more very cautious run down the slopes and then called it quits, headed back to the lodge and drank beer until everyone was through skiing. Turns out I had separated my shoulder. That was the last time I went snow skiing. It was still a great day as I got to hang out with the Garrigans.

Dan Story 5: Dan graduated from college before I did and was living and working in Knoxville. Upon graduation I got a job in Houston, TX. I packed up everything I owned in my new 1990 Ford F-`150, 4-wheel drive, hooked up my little fishing boat (the Swamp Rocket) and headed to Houston via Knoxville. I left my boat at Dan’s house so I could come back and get it when I had a place to put it. I came back on the 4th of July weekend. We had gone out during the early part of the day on the 4th and had come back to Dan’s house. Some of the people wanted to take a nap before we headed to downtown Knoxville for the fireworks. Not me and Dan though. Dan and I headed off to find someplace to go 4-wheeling in my truck. We found a commercial construction site that was good and muddy. After a while of slipping and sliding, we came up transversely to a set of huge and deep dozer tracks. I stopped and looked at Dan and he looked back at me and said, “Beeves, I’d do it in my truck.” Along with a couple other choice words. The gauntlet had been thrown down. My manliness was being questioned. What could I do? I punched it. We went straight up into the air and splatted into the mud up to the bottom of the doors. We were stuck. I got out and started futilely trying to dig my way out with a folding trenching shovel. We saw some brick layers off in the distance that were working. Dan says, “I’ll be back.” About 20 minutes later Dan comes back hanging off the side of a huge 4-wheel drive forklift like a victorious General George S. Patton. We didn’t have any rope, but I did have a bunch of paracord which we wrapped around the bumper and to the forklift about 100 times. It did the trick, and the guy pulled us out. We gave him beer money and we were on our way. We power washed the truck and headed downtown for the fireworks. That was a great day.

Dan Story 4: The New River Valley offers some of the best opportunities for outdoor activities in the state. Dan and I both liked to take advantage of those opportunities. There was one day that is still one of my favorite days ever. Dan stopped by my mobile home in his old blue Chevy pickup. We slapped my home-made canoe racks on his truck and loaded up a buddy of mine’s canoe and headed off to an old gravel pit down by the river that was a popular place to go and shoot. Back in the day you could get a brick of 22 rounds for 5 bucks.  Dan was an expert marksman with his bolt action 22 rifle. I also had a 22 marlin semi-auto, 12-gauge shotgun, clay pigeon thrower as well as a 357 magnum that was a lot of fun. Following the Blast Fest, we jumped in the pickup and went 4 wheeling, crashing through trees and blazing new trails. Dan was a Honey Badger in that truck. After we had our fill of 4 wheeling, we headed down to the river and launched the canoe. The small mouth fishing was off that day but we slayed red eyes. That was a great day.

Dan Story 3: Dan’s fraternity had a house down by the New River, the River House. The house was separated from the river by a corn field. The fraternity had a party one day/night and Dan, Tom and I were down by the river. Dan had his old blue Chevy all-wheel drive pickup truck at the time. Dan, Tom, and I decided to go back to the house. His truck was a single cab, so we were riding side by side and I rode the hump. The corn had been harvested, so instead of driving back around the corn field the way we came, Dan decided to haul ass directly through the corn stalks. We were blasting and bouncing through the corn field laughing profusely without being able to see anything but corn stalks being slapped down in front of us. We came crashing out of the corn field and into the back yard of the River House. The River House had a very long porch on the side. We skidded to a stop right by the porch. With everybody staring at us, Tom rolls down the window and said, “Somebody order a Pizza?”  I don’t know if the people on the porch thought it was funny, but we thought it was and kept laughing uproariously. That was a great day.

Dan Story 2: Dan and I decided we were going to canoe 23 miles down the New River. I had seen a map of the river in the Tech Student Union building. There was a big red arrow pointing to a location on the river where it bends around the Radford Arsenal. It stated something to the effect, “Danger, extreme drop off at this location. Stay to the extreme right of the river to avoid drop off.” We borrowed a canoe from one of Dan’s fraternity brothers and off we went. When we got to that point in the river, we were not over to the right enough and over the ledge we went. I was up front and when I saw what was about to happen, I shouted, “We’re gonna bite it!”  We went ass over tea kettle into the river. When our heads popped up out of the water, Dan shouted, “Let’s do it again!” Our gear was tethered to the canoe, so we went over to the shore and emptied the canoe and went back over the ledge 3 or 4 more times. The only problem was that the cooler lid had come open on the first go around and now our beers were floating down the river. We spent the rest of the day fishing, laughing, chasing beers, and drinking them when we caught up with them. This trip developed into several spring-time fishing expeditions down the New with me, Dan, Tom, Tom Cassidy, Ken Crandall, and others. We slayed small mouths and red eyes and drank many beers. Those were some great days.

Dan Story 1: Dan and Tom lived in an apartment above a store on Main Street (Sunny’s) in downtown Radford. It seemed as if every week Dan would call me and say, “Beeeeeves, come to Radford, our fraternity is having a party.”  Engineering school was very difficult for me and seemed as if I had to study 24/7 just to get by. But occasionally, I would relent and go to Radford to meet up with Dan and Tom. This developed into a game they liked to call, “Let’s make Beeves throw up.”  Their favorite weapon of choice was tequila (ta kill ya) They didn’t win every time, but they did win every now and then.

Sonja, Nora, Holly, Tom, and Jim,
My deepest sympathies go out to you and yours. Dan was just a great guy and a great friend. He would always call me after he saw a natural disaster hit Houston to check to make sure me and my family were OK. He was one of the funniest and fun-loving people I have ever known. He was always up for anything. Ken Crandall and I were on the phone the night before last talking about Dan stories. We laughed till our guts hurt. As sad as I am now for our loss, I can’t help but smile and laugh when I think about Dan.

I have known Dan since West Springfield High School. We were friends at the time, but we didn’t become really close friends until our college days. I was at Virginia Tech and Dan was at Radford University. Ken Crandall and I became fishing buddies and good friends right after high school and Ken and Dan were good friends before, during and after high school. Ken recommended that I give Dan a call when I got to Tech. I was a late bloomer when it came to college and Dan had just transitioned from active duty in the Navy and was now in the active reserves and attending Radford. I called Dan and so it began.

Sonja, Holly and Nora, 
We were so saddened to hear of Danny’s passing. 

We will always remember Danny as being full of life and laughter. He will be missed. 

Although we won’t be able to attend the services, we will be remembering Danny and thinking of you during this difficult time. 


Tom and Kathy Dorsey

Though I won't be there to add to the cavalcade of stories  - know that you all are in my thoughts and heart as you celebrate a life well lived.  Dan was so loved by so many - hold onto that and take care of each other as you move through this tough time. 

Love, Michelle

1979? In the Carvers basement. Me, Danny, Kenny Crandall, Ted Carver, Andy Carver
Spent a lot of time in this basement

Just a word to my friend, perhaps my Best Friend;                                                                                                                                               I see your face, that smile and I hear your voice.                                                  Yes, I will laugh again, but probably not like the laughter we shared.      I'm just at a loss my friend! So, with all the Love I'm capable of, I will hopefully leave you with a smile and these parting words;                       "The Dude Abides"

Dear Garrigan Family,
I spent many days with Danny in grade school through high-school. I have only fond memories of his playful and funny self! He was loyal and I knew he would always have my back...no matter what! 

My most sincere condolences to you all for this tremendous loss. 

Much love & sadness,
Cindy Pavell

Danny was my Best Friend growing up. We did everything together. He was the best, best friend anyone could have. Funny and adventurous we lived at the creek. Built many forts, had many adventures, tried many things. Hung at the rope swing on those hot summer days, Camped out in his side yard on those hot summer nights. Rode our bikes all over Springfield, would go many miles away come home at night. 
Our parents were both away one summer and we decided to have a party, It was a BIG party with 8 kegs of beer and well over 300 + people helping us to drink it all. We told our neighbors but did not tell Fairfax PD and they came in riot gear to break it up. Was on the Front page of the Springfield Independent Newspaper, Local paper. Always wondered if the parents ever knew about it?? 
We did many, many not so smart things growing up. Not the smartest but we sure had a ton of FUN doing them, Danny was just Fun to be around. He sure will be missed. Till we meet again My Friend

A great visit in Utah with Dan and the B.G.’s ( Brothers Garrigan)

My condolences to all of Dan’s family and friends.  Dan was good people- he had a wonderful sense of humor, an infectious laugh and I was fortunate to call him a friend!
We had great times in college but it was the night at a party at the Garrigan’s house in Springfield when I said “I’m headed to Utah tomorrow, anyone wanna go?”  Dan said, “I’ll have to tell my mom and my boss but yea, I’ll go with you”!  We ventured out west to Salt Lake City and shared a house and many great adventures.  Dan was always a great conversation, a great time and a great friend that would do anything for a friend.
Dan will be missed by so many and  remembered as one of the great ones.

Nora,holly,Sonja,Jim,&Tom...sorry to hear about Dan, it's a shock...Dan was always a friend to me, always friendly, and had a hug for me...he will be missed by many..love all of you, Gena.

To : Nora, Holly,Sonja,Jim, and all of the Family,,,I just read Dan's obit on Berry's Website, and what a shock, i have a lot of fond memories of Dan, he always treated me with friendship, and respect, i will always be grateful to have known him...My mom and i wish to send our condolences to all of the family at this difficult time....MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU...Gena, and Mom Cartha. Love all of You.

One more oldie - when we were all young and fancy free! Look at that hair cut!

A couple of oldies from Radford days - this one was in an old AXP album with the caption "That's what I'm talking about!" - a classic Danism.   Can't count the number of hearty laughs I had with this good man! Thank you for that, old friend.  love, Michelle

Sonja 
I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss. I know your pain and I love you dearly .  I only met Dan once but I was totally impressed with his sense of humor. He will be missed by so many people   
I love you ❤️ 
Shirley Shilling

Sonja & Family, 

We are deeply sorry for the loss of Dan.  May your precious memories bring you comfort. Please know we are thinking of you during this difficult time. 

With love & remembrance, Kimberly & Josh

This is sad news.  Dan and I played on the same soccer team through out our childhoods.  He was a great player, prolific scorer, and just a lot of fun to be around.  My condolences go out to Jim, Holly, and the entire Garrigan family.

Perhaps my friend, Danny, will be best remembered for his wickedly brilliant and quick sense of humor.  He ALWAYS brought a smile to my face, even when I was in the worst of moods!  His quick smile and contagious laughter will remain with me forever …
   I am so sorry that the Garrigan’s have to endure such grief and pain.  But, we must remember to keep faith, especially when there is such sadness and suffering.
   Good night my dear friend, RIP.

Though we did not see each other often, maybe once or twice a year, Dan was a great friend since we met in Radford over 40 years ago.  I have so many great memories of our camping trips on Poverty creek in the national forest along with his brother Tom. Dan had me in tears many times with his quick wit and awesome sense of humor. Dan could liven up any gathering like no other. Danny was one of the best friends a person could have.

  Rest in peace Brother Dan.  Love you always

OBITUARY

Daniel Frank Garrigan

January 16, 1961 – January 11, 2025

Berry Funeral Home

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