Jack Garrison

Rev. Jack Carl Garrison (G-Man) was born January 1, 1936 to James Edward and Grace Ellen Garrison in Claremore, Oklahoma. He passed from this life on September 29, 2021, in Enid, Oklahoma, at the age of 85.

He met Marilyn Castetter at a UPCI General Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, and they began dating in 1958. They married October 29, 1965, and were one month shy of their 56th anniversary. He loved to tell the story of how they met. He saw a striking young woman in a telephone booth, wearing a green beret. His good friend introduced them, and the rest is history.

Jack graduated from Claremore High School in 1955. Shortly thereafter, he began evangelizing full time with his two friends, Rev. William C. Parkey and Rev. Robert Gilstrap. He came to Enid, Oklahoma to pastor the United Pentecostal Church in 1964, and remained in this pastorship until May 2020. He loved the city of Enid. He loved his church.

He began his teaching career at Enid High School in 1973 and taught American History and Great American Documents until his retirement in 2000. He was passionate about teaching, and is still affectionately known by his former students and co-workers as “G-Man”. He loved his students, and they loved him in return. So much that they founded the “G-Club”, where they created their own t-shirts, and sold them as a fund-raiser for several years. In 1994, he was honored with the Life Example Award from Enid High School.

Jack loved the gospel. He loved to preach. And he loved being in church, in having been in Sunday School “every single, solitary Sunday” for more than 60 consecutive years, until his health began to fail him. He served in many different capacities within the Oklahoma District of the United Pentecostal Church, and throughout the organization: He was the Editor of the Beacon; Presbyter of Section 6. He served on the board at Tupelo Children’s Mansion; was a member of the Word Aflame Curriculum Committee; and served as an Adjunct Professor at Urshan Graduate School of Theology. He also conducted Prison Ministry services at Crabtree Correctional Center in Helena, Ok for many years.

He loved learning, and was a life-long student, earning a Bachelor’s Degree, 3 Master’s Degrees and finally, his Doctorate at the age of 62, with a PhD in Divinity from Phillip’s University. His wife was once questioned as to what his major was, to which she replied, “Hours”.

He loved sports. He was an avid Brooklyn Dodger’s fan, and had dreamed of becoming a catcher for them, until his path changed, and he felt called to the ministry.

He loved the University of Oklahoma Sooners. And he loved his Claremore Zebras. In his words, “Once a Zebra, always a Zebra.” Throughout the years, you could find him playing handball regularly at the YMCA, which was a sport he became very good at, snagging multiple trophies and championships throughout the years.

He was a great storyteller. To this day, anyone who took his American History class will tell you about him teaching his version of the Lincoln Assassination. Because he didn’t just tell the facts--he acted them out.

He loved literature, with a home library the size of Oklahoma. He was an incredible writer, and ultimately co-authored the book, “Claiming the Land”.

He knew no strangers, and if you saw him in Braums on his last Sunday on earth, he probably walked up to you, just to ask if you had once attended Enid High School.

He loved the United States of America, and was patriotic to his core. His only regret was that he never served his country.

He had many passions in life, but second to God, there was nothing that he loved more than his family… His wife, his daughters, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He even grew to love his “wife’s” sons-in-law.

Those left to cherish Jack’s memory are his wife, Marilyn L. Garrison, of the home; his three daughters: Carla (Mike) Humphrey of Plymouth, IN; Vonda (Danny) Jones of Broken Arrow, OK; and Devra (Quentin) Boyd of Owasso, OK. His nine grandchildren: Tyler, Mykelle, Jarryn and Carson Humphrey; Morgan, Conner and Madison Jones; Jackson and Colton Boyd. His two great-grandchildren: Ellie Grace and Ezra Leon. One brother, Tommy Garrison of Owasso, OK, a sister, Mary Nichols of Oklahoma City, OK; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Jimmy Garrison; his mother Grace Garrison; two brothers: Johnny Garrison, and Leroy Garrison; a sister Emma Garrison; and grandson Kendall Jones

A Celebration of Life will be held for Jack at 11:00 am, Monday, October 11, 2021 at Oakwood Christian Church; 401 N Oakwood Rd; Enid, OK. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Sunday, October 10, 2021 from 3:00-5:00 pm, at the Enid United Pentecostal Church;1168 E Chestnut Ave.

The family would like to thank you for your love, support and prayers during this difficult time. Memorial contributions, in Jack’s honor, may be made to the Enid United Pentecostal Church Building Program, through Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. It was Jack’s dream to see this new church come to fruition.

Condolences may be made at www.ladusauevans.com

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