Obituary of Harry Garretson

Services for Harry Garretson, 77, were held at 2:00 pm Monday, July 8, 2002, in the First United Methodist Church, Hale Center, TX with Rev. Dan Poole officiating. Burial followed in the Hale Center Cemetery under the direction of Freeman-Abell Funeral Home of Hale Center, TX. Mr. Garretson died Friday, July 5, 2002, in Lubbock, TX. He was born on February 20, 1925 in Dallas, TX. He graduated from Parkersburg High School in West Virginia and served in the United States Army Air Corps as a pilot during WWII. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1949 with a degree in bio-chemistry and is a member of the Texas A&M Former Students. He married Mary Lunn on December 1, 1950 in Amarillo, TX. She preceded him in death on August 17, 1998. He was a member of the Civil Defense and helped with relief and rescue efforts after the 1965 Hale Center Tornado. In 1957 he moved to Hale Center from Amarillo, TX where he had been employed by the Shamrock Corporation. It was in 1957 that he went into business with 2 partners, handling LP-gas, anhydrous ammonia and maintaining a shop with 2 full time mechanics. In 1960 they expanded their business to serve the farmers with diesel and gasoline, and built a service station for retail business. He was the first in the area to promote weed control by flame cultivation. In March of 1969 he formed a new business as sole proprietor, Garretson Farm Supply, incorporating farm chemicals and working with a custom applicator, offering ground and arial application of pesticides. In 1977 he and his son became the first in the area to build a suspension fertilizer plant, and offered soil sampling as an additional service which enabled him to custom blend the fertilizers. His son-in-law was later added as an entomologist in 1978. Mr. Garretson served 2 terms on the Hale Center City Council and has been a member of the Volunteer Fire Department for over 40 years. He received the Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree from the FFA in 1979. He served as past president of the Hale Center Chamber of Commerce and was a board member for an additional 3 years. He had served on the Plainview YMCA Board in 1983 and was appointed to the Hale County Airport Board in 1984. He served as past president and 7 year board member of the West Texas Agricultural Chemical Institute. He also served as past president and Board of Directors for the Texas LP-Gas Association. He was a member of the Texas Oil Marketers Association, the Lemond Masonic Lodge # 832, in Hale Center, and the Plainview Chapter and Council and the Plainview Commandery. He also was a member of the Hale Center Lions Club. Survivors; 1 son, Jay Garretson and his wife Leah of Lubbock, TX. 1 daughter, Claudia West and her husband Rick of Hale Center, TX. 1 sister, Virginia "Jinky" Duskey of St. Petersburg, Fl. 5 grandchildren, Kale, Clay and Marci Garretson and Randall and Andrew West. The family suggests memorials be sent to the Scottish Rite Hospital, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Association or the American Diabetes Association. To view other online obituaries log onto Abell Funeral Home