Garrison, WILLIAM NEIL "BILL", 81, an attorney, died Sunday morning, Oct. 31, 2004, after a brief illness. Memorial service: 1 p.m. Thursday at McKinney Memorial Bible Church. Private graveside service: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home. Memorials: Should friends desire, his memory may be honored with a gift to Young Life Fort Worth, 2501 Forest Park Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76110; Search Ministries, 3200 Riverfront Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76107; Dallas Theological Seminary, 3909 Swiss Ave., Dallas, Texas 75124; or a charity of choice. Bill Garrison was born in Dallas on Aug. 13, 1923, to Verne and Dorothy Logan Garrison. While a teen-ager, he and his family moved to Fort Worth and he graduated from Paschal High School in 1941. He attended North Texas Agricultural College, now the University of Texas at Arlington, for two years prior to entering the Army during World War II. After the war, Bill completed a degree in civil engineering at Texas Tech University. In 1948, he met the love of his life, Eleanor Sue Foster, and they were married April 8, 1950. After working for Stanolind Oil Co. for three years, he went to Southern Methodist University Law School, from which he graduated in 1954. During that time, he worked as a civil engineer for Carter & Burgess. After law school, he went to work for Marvin and Opie Leonard as a real estate attorney. In about 1960, he became a partner in the law firm of Cook & Garrison. In 1973, Bill formed Tarrant Title Insurance Co. and served as president and owner until 1985, when it was puchased by Hexter Fair Title Co. of Dallas. In 1985, Bill was elected to the Fort Worth City Council and served for six years. His proudest achievements while on the council were his part in the creation of the Ambulance Authority for Fort Worth, representing the city in the creation of Alliance Airport and negotiating the purchase of rail lines, which eventually became the Trinity Light Rail partnership between the cities of Fort Worth and Dallas. Bill continued to practice law until his death. Bill and Sue were part of a small group of people who formed a new church, McKinney Memorial Church, now McKinney Memorial Bible Church, in February 1954. They have attended there for the last 50 years, and Bill served on the elder board for about 40 years, prior to retirement last spring. He served on both local and national boards for Young Life Campaign and Search Ministries for over 30 years. In addition, he served on the board of trustees of Dallas Theological Seminary for 46 years and Bible Study Fellowship International for 26 years. He was a member of the Fort Worth Club, the Petroleum Club, the Every Other Monday Lunch Club and Rotary Club and had been a member of Ridglea Country Club and River Crest Country Club. His greatest joy, other than his beloved family, was gently leading men and women to the Savior whom he loved. Now he knows his Savior face to face. Survivors: Wife of 55 years, Sue Foster Garrison; sons, Preston Garrison of San Antonio, Verne Garrison II and his wife, Elaine, Gordon Garrison of Austin, Logan Garrison and his wife, Jennifer, and a son of honor, Carlos Bethencourt and his wife, Ana, of Caracas, Venezuela; grandsons, Andrew, William and John Foster Garrison; brother, Howard Garrison of Madrid, Spain; sisters, Peggy Probasco of Floydada and Doris Hightower and her husband, Ken, of Lexington, Ky.; and nephews and nieces, including Gregg and Gary Foster and their mother, Alma Foster. Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home 702 Eighth Ave. Fort Worth, Texas (817) 336-0345
(Dallas Morning News, Nov. 3, 2004)

My uncle Bill.