Robert Garrison

Obituary Robert H. Garrison March 10, 1917 - October 4, 2006 Bob Garrison, 89 years young, died October 4, 2006. Born in Connell, Washington, he was the youngest of three children born to Dayton Burt and Bonnie Garrison. Bob grew up in Centralia, Washington and graduated in pharmacy from the University of Washington in 1939. It was at the UW that he met Mae Rose Munroe, "love at first sight" according to Bob, and they were married in 1939 in Tacoma, WA. They had 7 children and 59 years of wonderful marriage. During those years Bob owned drugstores in the Centralia - Chehalis area with his brother, then moved the family to Glendale, California so he could take a Vice President position with the Rexall Drug Company. During his 15 years at Rexall, he managed to personally know most of the Rexall drug store owners throughout the U.S. Everyone in the Rexall family became a fan of Bob's and he remembered everyone's name and truly enjoyed them all. This is how it was with Bob, everyone he met he enjoyed, and they enjoyed him. In his retirement he and Mae Rose moved between the Los Angeles area, Olympia and Vista, California. Upon Mae Rose's death in 1998 it seemed that Bob's love of life as well as the love of his life was over. But Marion Oliver McCaw, a good friend since grade school in Centralia and a bridesmaid to Mae Rose in 1939 stuck with him through the last of Mae Rose's life. Bob and Marion rediscovered the meaning of life and love in their 80's and were married February 12, 1999. Although their marriage has been cut short, Bob and Marion showed both families, the Garrisons and the McCaws, and their many friends that love can be precious, fun, funny and adventurous at any age. Bob was preceded in death by three daughters, Mary, Gretchen, Patricia and one grandson, Christopher Rippey. In addition to Marion, Bob is survived by his children, Bob Garrison Jr. (Janice), Deedle Curry (Tom), Christine Rippey, Tom Garrison, 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren with one arriving in the spring, plus the recent additions to his family via his marriage to Marion, the McCaw boys, Bruce, Craig, John and their families. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, October 9, 2006, 12:00 pm (noon) at the Saint James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave. Seattle, WA 98104. If desired the family suggests memorials to The Salvation Army and/or Catholic Community Services.