Leslie Garrison

Leslie Garrison was a man of great integrity and character whose word was as good as gold. He believed in working hard to achieve one’s own success, and with unwavering determination he wholeheartedly applied himself to whatever task was at hand. Leslie was a devoted father who was actively involved in the lives of his children, but being a grandfather was the role he cherished most. With renewed fervor he came to rely on the faith that carried him through the trials that came his way, and it was this same faith that put the joy in his heart. Although Leslie will be deeply missed, his legacy will remain vibrantly alive in the generations who follow him.

When reflecting on the decade that is often referred to as the Roaring Twenties, all would agree that it was a great time to be an American. Advancements around nearly every corner fueled widespread prosperity that left countless Americans looking to celebrate their good fortune. The year 1928 introduced us to Mickey Mouse while the discovery of penicillin overseas soon saved lives in our great nation and throughout the world. Amelia Earhart made history as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic while Herbert Hoover was elected the 31st United States President. This year brought much to celebrate in the lives of one young family from Decatur, Michigan, as they were overjoyed to announce the birth of their healthy baby boy on July 25th. Leslie was the second youngest child born to his parents, George Raymond and Iva Pearl (Louden) Garrison, and was raised in the Vicksburg and Scotts area alongside his brother, Carl, and his sisters, Merna, Velma, and Ellen. His father worked at the sanitarium in Battle Creek and as the Great Depression gripped our nation throughout the 1930s, there was little money to be had. As was rather common for the youth of his generation, Leslie left school after the eighth grade to work instead.

As a young man Leslie was ready to embark on the next phase in his life’s journey. He enlisted in the United States Army with his brother, but it was his life back home that soon grew very exciting. After meeting a young girl named Jannis Dial, Leslie quickly found himself deeply in love. With a desire to build a life together, he and his sweetheart were married in 1955. Together they raised their bustling family on Center Street in Portage. In order to support his family Leslie worked at Allied Paper Mill for 36 years until it became James River. He continued to work there until he retired in 1996.

While his boys were growing up Leslie was an active part of their lives. He was a laid back father who supported his children in whatever they wanted to do. Leslie often took his boys fishing and taught them invaluable lessons such as the need to work hard, to carry oneself with integrity and honor, and to follow through with everything you have said you would do. When grandchildren later joined their family Leslie was thrilled, and he loved being a part of their lives as well. He cheered them on at many of their sporting events, and playing Yahtzee with them was another favorite activity that his grandchildren will always remember. A firm believer in education, Leslie modeled true diligence when he earned his GED in his sixties shortly after Allied Paper closed. He knew that an education was necessary to getting hired and wanted to set a good example for his children and grandchildren.

During his sunset years Leslie experienced both peaks and valleys along his journey. He was deeply saddened with his beloved wife’s death in 1999, but he drew strength from his family and a renewed commitment to faith during the days, weeks, and months that followed. Leslie became more active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Paw Paw, and he also read several religious books and watched religious television, too. He continued to live life to the fullest and enjoyed spending more time with the people he loved. Leslie enjoyed regular walks with his walking buddies at a local store such as Lowe’s, Meijer, or Menards, or usually at Mattawan High School during the warmer months. Sometimes Leslie and his friends logged up to six miles a day. He also frequently got together with fellow retirees from the paper mill at a restaurant where they reminisced about old times, shot the breeze, and even solved many of the world’s problems.

All who knew Leslie Garrison would agree that he was an extraordinary man to know and love. He could be stubborn at times, yet he could make us laugh like no other with his dry sense of humor and quick wit that was always at the ready. Leslie’s love for his family was easy to see, and his devotion to them was unmatched. He will be dearly missed and warmly remembered for generations to come.

Leslie Garrison of Kalamazoo died on Sunday, February 12, 2012. Leslie’s family includes his sons, Laurel (Jackie) and Joel (Venetta) Garrison; 4 grandchildren, Jessica (Kenny) Blasius, Jennifer Garrison, Brandon ( fiancee Amanda LeBeau), Tamika Garrison; 3 sisters, Merna Coppoch, Velma (Robert) Homan and Ellen Minnis; and brother, Carl (Mary) Garrison. Leslie was preceded in death by his wife, Jannis and a son, Jerry. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Paw Paw. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Please visit Leslie’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Great Lakes Hospice or The Seventh Day Adventist Church. Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler- Thompson, Paw Paw, 60900 M-40, 657-3870