Gary Alan Garrett, age 78 of Churdan, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Gary was born in an early blizzard on November 6, 1943, to parents Franklin and Pearl (Tatta) Garrett in Carroll, Iowa. Gary stayed on the farm to be raised by his grandparents Ben and Edna Garrett, where he grew up in the country between Lanesboro and Churdan, Iowa. He attended grade school and later graduated from Lohrville High School.  After graduation, Gary continued farming with his grandfather. He later furthered his education at Iowa Central Community College, earning his AA degree, and then continued his education at Iowa State University.

Gary married Betty Morris and to this union, he was blessed with three children, Lee Ann, Debbie, and Dan, and raised them on the family farm. Gary met the love of his life in 1976.  On December 8, 1984, Gary was united in marriage to Terry Lynne Hasty at Woodlawn Christian Church in Lake City, Iowa.  Together, they were blessed with two daughters, Sarah and Angela.  Their children were raised on the farm within miles of where Gary grew up. Aside from farming, he also owned and worked beside his wife at Greeneland Insurance Agency for over 30 years.  His family was his greatest accomplishment.  Family birthday parties, their annual Fourth of July gathering, and the Christmas holiday were a few of his favorite times. The more the merrier. He loved farming and taking care of horses, cattle, and collies.  The wheat run from Texas to South Dakota was a lasting memory. Outside of farming, Gary enjoyed coffee, cards, cribbage, singing, refurbishing tractors, golfing, and a competitive game of ping-pong.  He was a good-hearted man that would do anything for anybody, always willing to lend a helping hand, and never met a stranger. A jack of all trades who could fix anything as long as it included duct tape and baling wire. A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, neighbor, and friend. His grandchildren thought of him as larger than life and a legend! He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 37 years, Terry Garrett of Churdan, IA; children: Lee Ann Garrett (Trinity Ross) of Churdan, IA, Debbie Garrett of Glidden, IA, Dan (Jolienne) Garrett of Boone, IA, Sarah Reigle (Dustin Wondercheck) of Battle Creek, NE, Angela "Peanut" (Erek) Wright of Polk City, IA; grandchildren: Abigail (Cody) Dick, Allison Carroll, Taylor Carroll, Tiffany (Travis) Bowman, Tracey (Seth) Beyer, Jamie Quinn, Hannah (Alex) Stephens, Adala Reigle, Elaine Reigle, Garrett Reigle, Rigley Wondercheck, and  Jaxtyn Wright; great-grandchildren: Addalin, Caden, Myles, Brenna, Brock, Benjamin, Bristyn, Conor, Shea, Sadie, Jent, Leo, and Oliver; sisters: Judy (Dick) Anderson of Colorado, and Rebecca Garrett of Omaha, NE, and many nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father Franklin, stepmother Lillian, his mother Pearl, and her beloved partner William Smedley.