George Spencer Garrett

2024. Spencer was born on August 29, 1942, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania to George Sellers

Garrett and Elva Cope Garrett. He was the youngest of three siblings, Ethel Steinhauser

(Garrett) and Arthur Sellers Garrett. He loved playing sports, sailing, and horses, and made a

name for himself at the Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania as well as his beloved

Camp Tecumseh in New Hampshire where he spent his summers as a camper and a counselor.

He was flat-out fast, and it was there that he famously challenged a camp thoroughbred to a

100-yard dash and lost by just two lengths! He had a taste for adventure and decided to head

west for the first time in his life to attend college at the University of Wyoming. During his

summers, he traveled the US in a Rambler station wagon and Europe on motorcycles with his

best friend from Westtown, doing everything from picking artichokes in the Valley to swimming in

the Amsterdam canals in the dark of the night.

It was at the University of Wyoming in 1962 that he met JoAnn (Joby) Hughes on a blind date,

and they were married on June 5, 1964. Upon graduation (something he proudly admitted he

achieved only because of Joby’s positive influence on his study habits), he started his first job

as a transportation planning engineer at the Wyoming Department of Transportation and they

settled in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

They adopted their first Irish Wolfhound as newlyweds and would go on to adopt and rescue

over a dozen of the gentle giants, in addition to a menagerie of small dogs, cats, birds, fish,

turtles, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even a horse. Spencer loved Cheyenne and started the first

youth and adult soccer leagues there. He loved tinkering on unique cars and over his lifetime his

collection included Model As, MGBs, Corvettes, and a Jaguar XK150 Roadster. He was an

incredible handyman, building additions to their house, and could fix just about anything (but he

and plumbing jobs were not on the best of terms). He and Joby were also an entrepreneurial

team, launching a quilting business (Prairie Quilts) and even selling Joby’s creations across the

US.

They raised two children, George Sean Garrett and Toria Garrett, there. Spencer never missed

a track meet, a ballet performance, or a piano recital nor did he miss a chance to chaperone a

field trip, or attend a Cheyenne Frontier Days pancake breakfast. They lived happily there until

1997 when Spencer finally retired from the DOT, they closed up Prairie Quilts, and they moved

to Antrim, New Hampshire to be closer to their children and their future grandchildren. They

spent 21 years nestled in the woods with all their animals. Spencer amused himself during

retirement with various hobbies including coordinating the town’s expansion of street lights and

sidewalks, working as a ski lift operator at a local ski area (where he also skied well into his

70’s), delivering bread for a bakery, and volunteering as a driver for seniors. Of course, they

also continued to rescue Irish Wolfhounds and numerous other dogs and cats, fueled in large

part by Joby’s new career as a Veterinary Technician.

In 2018, they decided to move to one of their favorite places, Cape Cod, after first vacationing

there in the 1970s. They happily settled in Eastham with their menagerie of animals albeit a bit

smaller. Joby passed away in September 2020, and Spencer remained on the Cape. There he

made new great friends who he enjoyed immensely. He was a regular at the Eastham Senior

Center and frequented the Elks Club as a regular “guest”. He especially enjoyed his dinners at

Fairway and Yardarm, and most of all, his daily morning coffee gang at Hole in One. He loved

spending time with his neighbors and the Cape Cod Corvette Club. His family absolutely adored

him, and he was always up for teasing, any sort of game, rounds of mini-golf, and beachside

dinners (as long as he didn’t have to cook anything). He was a storyteller and a story-maker

who truly loved being with his family, his animals, and his friends. He leaves behind his

children, Sean and his wife Catherine Rocchio, and Toria and her husband Dave Stevenson.

Spencer is also survived by his five grandchildren who meant everything to him, Marigold

Garrett (21), Isabella Garrett (21), George Sawyer Garrett (20), Sam Stevenson (14), and

Georgie Stevenson (13). He is also survived by his five birds, and his last two devoted dogs

Baxter (7) and Ollie (3).

There will be a private family service to honor him and Joby. In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations

can be made to MSPCA, supporting their devotion to helping any animal in need.