Don Franklin Garlock

Don Franklin Garlock was born July 18, 1955, in Boise, Idaho. He arrived in this world to be raised by his mother Donna May Andrus Smith after her divorce from his father John Richard Smith prior to his birth. Don never met his father, but on June 9, 1961, Donna married Jess N Garlock, the man Don would come to love and call his dad. Although never legally adopted, Don took Jess’s last name, Garlock. On March 26, 1962, Don’s brother Douglas Richard Garlock was born, and the family welcomed Don’s sister Kris (Kristy Ann) into the family on August 3, 1963.

Don met his first wife, Debra (Debbie) Giron while in high school, and they were married in February 1977. Don and Debbie welcomed their first child, a son, Don (Chad) Garlock, on May 2, 1977, and two years later, a daughter, Denae Elaine Garlock, on May 26, 1979. Don and Debbie bought their home in Kuna, ID, where they planned on raising their children. Don joined the Army National Guard January 8, 1981, and entered basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, on March 16, 1981. Don and Debbie divorced after his return from basic training in 1981.

Don met his second wife, Pamela Sue (Bissonette) Fisher, in the summer of 1981, bringing into their home her two children, Shawna Nickole Fisher and Daniel Ray Fisher. They married for the first time in September of 1981. They moved to Crouch, ID, where Don worked for Shepherd Construction in the lumber mill until winter of 1981 when Don got his foot caught by pulling it into the blade of the saw. Don and Pamela divorced in 1983.

In the fall of 1985, Don and Pamela once again met, and they married for a second time on December 3, 1985. This marriage lasted 34 years until his death on February 1, 2020.

Don was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized on September 28, 1963, and ordained a Deacon by his grandfather Clawson Andrus on December 24, 1967.

Don was a member of the Idaho Army National Guard, where he worked full time as Heavy Equipment Mechanic, working on track vehicles at MATES from 1985 to his retirement in 2000.

In 1999, Don and Pamela moved to Star Ranch, Idaho City, where he resided until his passing. While living in Star Ranch, Don joined the Placerville Volunteer Fire Protection District. As a firefighter, he was elected as Fire Commissioner in 2008, a position he continued to serve in until his death.

Don took the EMT course in 1997, and although it took him several attempts to pass the test, he never gave up trying. In 1998, he became a National Registered EMT-B, running with both the Placerville and Idaho City ambulances.

Don was preceded in death by his mother Donna May (Andrus) Garlock, grandparents Clawson and Nancy Andrus. He is survived by his wife Pamela Sue (Bissonette) Garlock of Idaho City, ID; son Don (Chad) Garlock of Idaho City, ID; daughter Denae Giron of Tremonton, UT; stepdaughter Shawna N. (Matthew) Schneiderman of Meridian, ID; stepson Daniel R. Fisher of Boise, ID; 11 grandchildren: Autumn Schneiderman, Bethanny Schneiderman, Caleb Schneiderman, Dacia Schneiderman, Saylor Fisher, Noah Fisher, Faith Fisher, Oceana Garlock, Jasmine Garlock, Damien Garlock, and Austin; and one great-grandson, Ryker Fisher. He is also survived by his sons’ ex-wives, whom he always considered as family: TeLisa Hosford (Don Chad Garlock) and Mary Fisher (Daniel Fisher).

A viewing will be held on Friday, February 7, 2020, at the Relyea Funeral Chapel (318 N. Latah Street, Boise, ID) from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A memorial service also will be held at Relyea Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at 12 noon, followed by interment at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise.