Obituaries (04/24/24)
John-Garrison L. Garrison
Hartselle
Funeral service for John-Garrison L. Garrison, 74, will be Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Ron Jacobs officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Forrest Chapel Methodist Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, April 18, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home.
Mr. Garrison passed away on Monday, April 15, 2024 at his residence. John-Garrison L. Garrison was born the fifth of six children, in Morgan County, on May 15, 1949, to Irvin and Hattie Smallwood Garrison. Born to a farmer, John-Garrison began a difficult life as a sharecropper’s son. Education came second to raising cotton, potatoes and corn. John-Garrison discovered an early passion for cooking through his mother and only sister, Faye. This would later become his calling both in and out of the service. At the height of the Vietnam War, he enlisted and saw duty overseas with the 1st and 7th Air Cav. During his tour of duty in Vietnam, he was wounded rescuing a fellow soldier, injured in a mine field. He refused the Purple Heart as he didn’t consider his injury worthy of this prestious medal. John-Garrison saw action during the Tet Offensive losing most of the company to enemy fire. He was one of only five men to survive one of the deadliest battles in Vietnam becoming, at only 19 years of age, “the old man” as the new recruits called him. John-Garrison was promoted to Buck Sergeant after only three months of combat. He was an RTO “Radio Transmitting Operator” and earned a National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and a Combat Infantry Badge. He was also awarded the Bronze Star. John-Garrison earned the title of Sharpshooter due to his proficiency with the M16 and M60. He retired after 25 years of service.
John-Garrison married Gloria Jacobs when they met at the Corral Restaurant and together raised three sons on a small farm on Forrest Chapel Road, West of Hartselle. He found work with Keyes Offshore in 1983 and became Chief Steward, a position he held for over 20 years. He and his wife celebrated 45 years of marriage last October and John-Garrison would have turned 75 in May. He was baptized and loved watching Gary Bradley every Sunday and read his Bible often.
He leaves behind to honor his memory, his Wife of 45 years, Gloria Jacobs Garrison and three Sons, John-Garrison Lee Garrison (Natoshia), Bobby James Garrison and Gerald Matthew Garrison. He also leaves behind four grandsons, Clayton Tucker, Tavish Garrison, Janzen McBride and Jimmie Spurgeon; three granddaughters, Renaee Garrison, Rose Marie Garrison and Bryleigh Anne Nicole Garrison. He leaves to his memory, two great-grandchildren, Owen Hodgson and Evelyn Mae Garrison; a Brother, Larry Garrison (Linda); a Sister, Faye Yeager (Gerald); Sisters-in-law, Shirley Garrison, Diane DeBell, Evelyn Garrison and Barbara Eddy; Brothers-in-law, Ronald Jacobs (Phala) and Ralph Jacobs, Jr.; his Mother-in-law, Romilda Jacobs and a large number of nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
Nephews and brothers-in-law will be pallbearers, Gerald M. Garrison, John-Garrison Lee Garrison, Janzen McBride, Joe Garrison, Clayton Tucker, Tavish Garrison.
Tracie Rivers Flowers
Danville
A Celebration of Life service for Tracie Rivers Flowers, 46, was held
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Tunsel Road Baptist Church with Bro.
Joe Bailey and Bro. Tim McCormick officiating and Peck Funeral Home
directing. She will lie in state for one hour at the church prior to the
service. Burial will be in Flowers Family Cemetery. Visitation will be
Friday, April 19, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home.
Mrs. Flowers died on Monday, April 15, 2024 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She
was born January 4, 1978, in Morgan County, to Garland Rivers and Betty
Blasingame Edwards.
She was a member of the Tunsel Road Baptist Church and was employed at Big
Bob Gibson’s BBQ for 31 years as a server. She was a loving wife, mother and
grandmother. She will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.
Preceding her in death were her father, Aunt Linny, Aunt Phyllis and her
grandparents.
Survivors include her husband, Brandon Bull Flowers; mother, Betty Blasingame Edwards; sons, Trevor Flowers (Chelsea), Lane Flowers, Cole Flowers and Caden Flowers; sister, Mandy Rivers; granddaughter, Remi James Flowers; nieces, Bailey King and Kendall Rivers; several other nieces and nephews, family and friends.
Pallbearers were Chad Prater, Marlin Cole, Kris Owens, Mike Brown, Lane
Crowe, Cody Clemmons, Tim Widner and Dakota Fromhold.
Angela Marie Traylor
Somerville
Angela Marie Traylor, 65, of Somerville passed away Saturday, April 20, 2024 in Russellville. She was born March 31, 1959, in Norfolk, Va. to Joseph Walter Eaton and Joan Eve Geissensetter. No services are planned, and Peck Funeral Home is assisting the family. She was a teacher for A.S.F.L. in Huntsville, prior to her retirement. Angela was preceded in death by her father, husband, Bryce Traylor; son, Dylan Jackson; survivors include, son, Brian Miller (Melissa); stepson, Shane Traylor (Camoon); mother, Joan Eaton; two sisters, Melinda Steele and Aleta Haynes; four grandchildren.
Billy Don “Big Daddy” Ryan
DANVILLE
A Graveside Funeral service and Interment for Billy Don Ryan “Big Daddy”, 91, were held Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 3:00 PM at Herring Cemetery with Bro. Harold Thompson officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Ryan passed away on Friday, April 18, 2024, at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born January 22, 1933, in Morgan County, to Issac Dolph Ryan and Maudie Cryer Ryan. He was a United States Army veteran serving two years, after being drafted to service in the Korean War. Mr. Ryan was a cattle farmer, who enjoyed fishing and bird hunting. He was employed by Monsanto for 38 years and three months, in the spinning department and maintenance, prior to his retirement. Preceding him in death were his parents; a sister, Martha Hutzler; two brothers, J.H. Ryan and I.D. Ryan, and an infant granddaughter, Taylor Ryan.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Ryan; sons, David Ryan (Shari) and Patrick Ryan; daughter, Kelley Hughes (Jackie); three grandchildren, Sarah Hughes, Travis Hughes and Caleb Ryan.
Pallbearers will be Travis Hughes, Caleb Ryan, Jackie Hughes, David Ryan, Patrick Ryan and Mitch Roberts.
In lieu of flowers, family requests memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Betty K. Golden
Eva
Funeral service for Betty K. Golden, 75, was held Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bill Stone officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Betty K. Golden died on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born May 25, 1948, in Cullman County, to Hamp Dover Keeton and Agnes Compton Keeton.
Betty was a lifelong resident of Eva. She graduated from Eva High School in 1966 and from Calhoun Community College in 1968 with a secretarial degree. After graduation from Calhoun, she went to work at the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA). During her 37 years at NASA, she served as branch secretary for Engineers and later worked in the media office. She was also a member of the Profession Secretaries International and served as president of the Alabama chapter. After retiring from NASA in 2004, she worked at the Eva Public Library for 10 years.
Ms. Betty, as she was known in Eva, loved to travel. She had the opportunity to travel to all 50 states and most Canadian Provinces and much of Western Europe. She also accompanied Kenneth on most of his hunting trips to Texas, South Dakota, and Manitoba.
She and Kenneth were also beekeepers. He was in production, and she was vice president in charge of sales. She kept the ‘honor box’ stocked and was always available to answer any questions a customer might have.
She will be missed and the bees have been told that she is gone.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth D. Golden; brother-in-law, James R. Golden (Betty), Jim Golden (Janice) and Joseph Edward Golden (Brenda); sister-in-law, Mary Casey (Curtis).
Honorary Pallbearers will be Joseph Emmett Golden, Ronnie Golden, Jim Golden, Joe Golden, Mary Casey and Kenneth Burks.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Eva Lions Club or to the Eva Public Library.
Hilda Faye Eubanks
Somerville
A Graveside Funeral service and Interment for Hilda Faye Eubanks, 83, was held Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Old Liberty Methodist Church
cemetery in Town Creek with Bro. Larry Crumpton and Bro. Roger Loosier
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Eubanks died on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born June 14, 1940, in Lawrence County, to Robert Yarbrough and Annie
Guskey Yarbrough.
She was a loving wife and mother, that attended Somerville Baptist Church,
loved the outdoors, loved people and her little dog “Cooper.” She was
employed as an LPN for Lawrence County Medical Center for 17 years and for
South Morgan Medical for about 10 years, prior to her retirement. Her
husband, Ronald Eubanks, a son Anthony Whitworth, several siblings and her
parents preceded her in death.
Survivors include daughters, Patricia Chaney, Selena Jones (Billy) and Sonia Porter (Kenny); 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Family and friends served as pallbearers.