John LeRoy Garrett "Jack"

Our beloved husband, father, grandpa, and friend passed away surrounded by family on December 1, 2022. Jack was born on May 28, 1933, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to John and June Garrett weighing only 3.5 pounds. Jack showed his fighting spirit by defying all odds. His mother, a nurse, kept him alive by placing him in a shoe box on the open oven door of a wood burning stove as an incubator. Jack always lived his life to the fullest and seemed to be invincible.

From a young age, Jack was an entrepreneur. At just 3.5 years old, Jack was trading the family eggs for candy. He worked his way through elementary school delivering newspapers and even selling hotdogs at the Twin Falls Cowboys games. “Get your fresh roasted hot dog with a wiener in the middle and the mustard on top, just the way you like it-with a bottle of pop.” Jack loved his country and took great pride serving in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel for the U.S. Army Reserves. Jack worked for Cal Gas for 23 years; after leaving, he started his own business investigating propane accidents and gas fires.

Jack was active in his church and community. He held several callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He even helped to build the church building that he was married in and attended his entire adult life. Jack took part in both the Kiwanis Club and Lions Club, where he progressed through the organization until becoming the president. Jack was still volunteering at casino nights and running the craps tables for the Lions Club up until less than a month before his passing. Even at 89 years young, Jack was attending water class at the YMCA 3-5 days a week. On most weekends, he could be seen wearing his Boise State gear, cheering on the Broncos!

Jack met the love of his life, Shirley Anderson, when they were in high school. They were married on June 12, 1954, and spent 68 wonderful years together. Their love left a beautiful legacy that will continue for many generations to come. Together, they had four children whom they cherished. The family spent many happy years together going to their cabin and going camping and fishing. Jack loved the outdoors and enjoyed teaching all his grandchildren how to fish. They were blessed with 15 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. There wasn’t a baby that didn’t find peaceful rest on Grandpa Jack’s belly. You often found Grandpa Jack with a lap full of kids, as many as he could fit, or didn’t. He held us, loved us, and cheered us on.

Jack never knew a stranger and would do anything for anyone. There wasn’t a place you could go and Jack didn’t know someone who lived there. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. To anyone that ever said they were sorry, Jack was quick to reply, “Don’t be sorry, be happy.” We will all miss his kind and generous heart.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents John William and June Estella (Grimmett). He is survived by his wife Shirley (Anderson), sisters Renee (Jack) Poulson and Zoe Ann Waits, son John (Chris), daughter Cindy (Bruce) Edstrom, son Randy (Janet), and daughter Cheryl (Ken) Garland.