Donna Ruth Garrison

Life was so much better if you knew Donna Laird Garrison. She was lovely, kind, compassionate, and she loved you unconditionally. And everybody loved Donna, especially her family, friends, and fellow parishioners at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Muskogee. Donna was born March 16, 1939, in Muskogee, OK, to Alva Leroy Laird and Mabel Addie Gooch Laird. She died Thursday, July 13, 2023. Donna married Jack William Garrison on June 28, 1958. Donna’s interests were closely tied with her husband and children, raising a family, and maintaining a home. While living in Melbourne, Fla., she served on the Brevard County Florida School Board, was an officer of the Brevard Symphony Auxiliary and served on the Board of the Brevard County Juvenile Court. As a resident of Huntsville, Ala., she worked at the Nichols Research Corporation the Defense Intelligence Agency Smart Weapons Program. And when the couple lived in Houston, she worked on the NASA Apollo program at the Johnson Space Center. Donna served as an officer of the Post Adjudication Review Board for the Muskogee County Juvenile Court. She was a Master Gardener and served as an officer of Muskogee Garden Club, as well as a member of Friends of Honor Heights. She was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and the New Life Sunday School Class. She currently worked as office manager at Stay Home Services in Muskogee. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jack W. Garrison; sister, Peggy Ann Holland; brother, Leroy Alan Laird; brothers, Derrell E. Laird, Dennis D. Laird, William J. Laird, Ronald R. Laird and Terry D. Laird; and sister, Betty Jo Cook. Survivors include her sons, Christopher William Garrison of Muskogee and Harrison Andrew Garrison of Denver, Colo.; granddaughters, Kira Louise Garrison and Kai Ruth Garrison; sister, Linda Jean Paylor; sisters-in-law, Glenda Broome, Linda K. Garrison and Mary Jean Willhite; many nieces and nephews. A family conducted memorial service with Rev. Emery Mason presiding will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Muskogee. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2130 W. Okmulgee Ave., Muskogee, Okla., 74401.

Donna Ruth Garrison

March 16, 1939 - July 14, 2023