Joel Arthur Garrett

Joel Arthur Garrett I passed away peacefully at home in Midlothian Tx on Tuesday June 20th 2023.

Joel was born on December 30, 1939 to Irving R. Garrett and Elsie F. (Adcock) Garrett in Ottowa Ks. where he was raised with his brother Bill. He graduated from Ottowa High School in the class of 1958.

Joel then joined the Air Force, completing his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base Tx and was assigned to Amarillo Air Force Base for aircraft and missile training. He was enlisted from Feb. 4, 1960 to Feb. 7, 1964. During that time he was stationed on an alert in Germany and also sang in the Air Force Barbershop Quartet.

On January 31, 1975 Joel joined Evelyn Burnett Jennings in marriage. Together they have six children, Joel Garrett II, 

LaVonne Arent (Sean), Terry Garrett (Kristin), Robert Ketcherside, Clayton Ketcherside, and Tamra Ellis (Sonney).

They also have ten grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. 

Joel and Evelyn spent the majority of their life in Midlothian where he worked as an over the road truck driver hauling oversized loads. He worked for several companies but Trinity was the longest from Feb. 6, 1995 to Apr. 28, 2011 when he retired. 

After his retirement he began his own business called Santa Clause Pilot Cars which he ran for about eight years until he fully retired.

During Joel’s career as a truck driver he became interested in photography, he would carry a camera with him everywhere and take photos at all the different locations he visited. 

Joel also enjoyed teaching his kids to shoot rifles and guns, classic cars and reading Louie L’Amour books.  But his favorite pastime was old westerns and old country music. Joel and Evelyn would go dancing in their younger years in their matching western west, most likely made by Evelyn and Joel would sing her the songs as they danced. 

Joel was proceeded in death by his loving wife Evelyn, his parents, brother Bill, brothers-in-law Alvin Jennings, Edwin Jennings, and Frank Jennings and nephew Gene Brown. 

Visitation for Joel will be held at Wayne Boze Funeral Home 1826 US-287 BUS, Waxahachie, TX 75165 from 9-11 am Wednesday July 5, 2023 with a Graveside service following at DFW National Cemetery 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211 at 1:15 pm 

In lieu of flowers the families had requested memorials be sent to the National Cancer Society (cancer.org) or to St. Judes (stjude.org)