Herbert Alan Garrison was born February 20, 1947 at home on the farm where he grew up near Gerster, MO to Richard Edward Garrison and Myrtle Ruby (Wisner) Garrison. He passed peacefully at home on February 18, 2020.
Herb graduated from Osceola High School in 1965 and worked at the Ford plant until he was drafted into the army in 1966. He served in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1968. After his discharge, he came back to Osceola and was in the Laborers Union where he helped build the Osceola Housing. He was then employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation where he worked for many years before retiring.
He was united in marriage to Betty Ann Redinger on July 10, 1970. To this union two children were born, Gayla Annette in 1971 and Sara Lyneigh in 1974. Herb and Betty were married for 49 years in which they cherished the time they had with friends and family members. Herb took great pride in his family and in his quiet, subtle way instilled in his daughters a great respect for nature, hard work, honesty, and loyalty to family. Herb was a member of Bear Creek Church where he attended most of his life.
Herb loved the outdoors, and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed listening to his foxhounds run, setting trotlines, hunting for mushrooms, tending to his cattle on the farm, planting and watching his garden grow, and sharing his produce with family and friends. He recently enjoyed rabbit hunting with his new beagle, Jack. Over the years he had many dogs, but none he was attached to as much as his buddy, Oscar.
He was not known to be much of a talker, but Herb loved to play his mandolin and sing bluegrass music. He looked forward to jam sessions at Bear Creek, Avery and Springfield, and expressed himself best through his music. He played with the Bear Creek band at many local functions and nursing homes.
Herb was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Lyneigh. He is survived by his wife, Betty; one daughter, Gayla Carney and her husband, Paul; son-in-law, Chad Whitesell and his wife, Beth; six grandchildren: Nate, Kaylee, and Drew Carney; Jaycob Jamsek (& Chelsie), and Cade and Gage Whitesell; and three great-grandchildren: Finley, Anson, and Kimber Lyneigh.