JOHN GARNETT

John Clay Garnet, 91, died Aug 29, 2018 at Brookdale Care Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

He was born at home near Ewing Missouri to parents Sam B and Marguerite Garnett on June 14, 1927.

He sustained lifelong friendships with several childhood friends, including Russell Heindselman, Ray English and John Hobert. John graduated from Monticello High in May of 1945 and by permission from his parents joined the Navy at 17. He was discharged in 1946 for medical reasons. He enrolled in the University of Missouri with intent to go to law school. After two rigorous years of classes, also working full time to pay his way he travelled out to Kansas for the wheat harvest in 1948. The harvest failed but instead landed a job as a plumber’s helper in Lakin. His skilled and diligent ditch digging lead to a job with Colorado Interstate Gas as a roustabout. He returned to Missouri in 1949 but came back to Kansas in 1950 and continued working for CIG for the next 39 years.
He married Jean Koch in 1957 and fathered three children; Cheryl, Barclay and Debra all born in Satanta, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Robert, Jack and Sam.

John retired from CIG as Associate VP of Operations in 1989 and had a fulfilling, and successful career. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, dogs, laughter, entertaining guests and a major table tennis enthusiast starting in high school. After retirement he became a USTTA referee and was also involved with the first U.S. Olympic table tennis team in Colorado Springs. He is known for popularizing the sayings “bean soup” and later, “you’re bad news” to table tennis opponents, friends, relatives, acquaintances and passer byes. He has been and will always be sorely missed.

A memorial service will be held July 6, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the Ten Mile Baptist Church.