Funeral services for Bettie Jane Varnon Garrett, 85, were held October 22 at Lakepoint Church in Dallas.
Interment followed in Miller Grove Cemetery, Cumby.
Mrs. Garrett died on October 13, 2021. She was born on May 26, 1936, to Henry Forney Varnon and Jeanie Prather Varnon in Emory. She had four grown siblings at the time of her birth and her nieces and nephews were more like her siblings. She graduated from Emory High School in the small class of 1954. She was active in clubs and on the women’s basketball team. Her first job was at Booker Nix’s drug store and soda fountain on the square in Emory. Working at the soda fountain gave her an outlet for her bubbly, friendly personality.
She moved to Dallas and lived at the YWCA. She soon was employed by The Great A&P Tea Company, where she worked for many years as a bookkeeper and then as assistant traffic manager. Her professional career spanned over 60 years. She was one of the first women in the nation to work in the grocery transportation business, working on the logistics of moving trucks and rail cars with supplies for the grocer’s warehouse, then distribution to the stores. During times of transition, she served as acting traffic manager until the next man could be hired for that position. Cullum Companies (Tom Thumb) hired her in 1975 as traffic manager. She served on both State and National Boards of Transportation, the Southeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and in various ways at every church she attended.
She married James Ray Garrett on November 10, 1954. They met when she was 16 years old on the square on Emory.
Mrs. Garrett is survived by daughter, Raylene McKinnon and husband Robert, and daughter-in-law, Lori Garrett; five grandchildren, Morgan Garrett and husband Evin, Lindzi Novak and husband Nick, LorAnn Garrett Newman and husband J.D., Brannon James Garrett, and Garrett McKinnon and wife Molly Hansen; great-grandchildren, Rhidin P. and Rhiot B. Novak, and Ricky Fincher Garrett Newman; and 31 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; husband; daughter, Renée Garrett; son, Rick Garrett; and grandchild, Crystal Garrett.
Arrangements were under the direction of Sparkman Crane Funeral Home.