Larry Don Garrett, LaCrosse resident, passed away Friday, November 4, 2011 at the Whitman Hospital in Colfax after a brief illness. He was 71. A Memorial Service will be held later in the springtime. Larry was born January 12, 1940 in Kellogg, Idaho to Marvin and Elaine (Jeffries) Garrett. His family moved to St. Maries, Idaho when he was young and then later to Spokane where he attended Rogers High School. Larry was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and camping. He drove logging truck on the Colville Indian Reservation for several years following high school. At the age of 27, Larry enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Vietnam era where he worked as an ordinance specialist. He was honorably discharged and returned to the Northwest. He met Marlene Ysen through mutual friends and the couple married in 1973. They moved to Renton, Washington where Larry worked as a machinist for the Ingersoll-Rand Company. They moved to LaCrosse, Washington about 27 years ago and Larry worked as a machinist for BEK there and then later worked as a truck driver for many years, most recently for Empire Disposal Hauling. He was a member of the LaCrosse Gun Club. He and the family especially loved camping on the Colville Reservation near Lake Roosevelt. He retired four years ago. Larry's wife Marlene passed away in 2006. He is survived by 3 children; Ben Oles of Coulee Dam, WA., Tina Garrett, Oak Harbor, WA. and Annette Avery of Tucson, AZ.; 8 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; a sister, Cokie Garrett of Hayden Lake, ID. and a brother, Jack Garrett of Hay, WA. In addition to his wife he was preceded in death by his parents. On-line guest book is available at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home, Colfax, is caring for the family.