Bobby "Bob" Charles Garrison

Bobby Charles “Bob” Garrison, of Groesbeck, crossed the finish line of life, at St. Catherine’s in Waco, on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at age 72. A Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waco on Friday, October 30, 2015 at 12:00 Noon. It was Bob's wish to be cremated and have his ashes spread at the finish line at Oaklawn Racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas when the racing season starts in January. Bob was born December 20, 1942 to Leon Garrison and Maude (Golden) Garrison in Umpire, Arkansas. He graduated from high school in Umpire in 1961, and liked to recall his days of mischief with his high school buddies and his cousin Don. He was the projectionist for the teachers at school, which was only a small part of his many talents in life. Bob joined the U. S. Navy in January 1962 during the Vietnam era, and eight months later found himself on a ship in the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was a critical time for the world and especially for those on the ship exposed to the nuclear weapons on deck where they ate and slept. He was trained and served as a combat medic, and thus developed an aversion of all black trash bags from the losses he had seen of fellow soldiers. Bob was in the Navy through 1966, and he suffered PTSD as well as many other symptoms from his exposures to radiation, lead, and agent-orange, which affected his health the rest of his life. After the military, Bob had a long career with the U. S. Government, working as a safety engineer with the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers. His work included the construction of 3 military hospitals in Washington State, San Antonio, and North Carolina, and a dam in Arizona. He also worked with the FBI over a several year period, having been a Government witness as a whistle blower after he discovered contract fraud. His life (and those around him) was endangered, even up until he became seriously ill. Bob found happiness in meeting his future wife, Celia Garcia, and they were united in marriage on July 7, 1998 in Las Vegas. Although she had never been in a casino before, Bob took her Casino hopping from coast to coast during their marriage. His other loves included his dogs (he always had a Dachshund and currently had two plus an English Bulldog). Additionally, he grew up loving to fish with his family in Arkansas, and especially enjoyed horse racing. Growing up in Hot Springs, he knew many of the owners, trainers, and jockeys. He and Celia attended races all over the U.S., including the Kentucky Derby, until his final days. He was a very good handicapper; in fact he picked the “top 3” in Belmont in June. His natural talents enabled him in winning both casino and horse racing. How lucky Celia was that Bob loved to cook. She let him enjoy cooking as often as he wished. Bob and Celia lived in Groesbeck earlier in 1999 through 2003 and moved back to Groesbeck in 2010 to be near her mother who was living in Groesbeck. Bob retired from working in December 2012 when he suffered a heart attack, which led to a progressive decline in his health. He is survived by his wife Celia Garrison of Groesbeck; son, Jim Garrison of Wickes, Arkansas; granddaughters, Marisah and Bobbie of El Dorado, Texas; sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Bill Hutto of Dierks, Arkansas; and nieces, Cindy Ditts of Rogers, AR and Julie Jones of Springdale, AR and nephew, Jeff Hutto of Evansdale, Georgia.