Joseph Carl Garrett, age 85, a native and lifelong resident of Belforest, passed away Jan. 9, 2018 at home, with his wife, Ruth, by his side.
He was born at home to Daisy and Malcolm Garrett. In 1952, Joe joined the Navy and served on the USS Helena where he formed friendships that still hold fast today.
In 1954, Joe and his high school sweetheart, Ruth Christine Koch, were married at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fairhope and they soon traveled to California, where he was stationed.
A few years later, they returned home to Baldwin County to raise their family in Belforest, a community he loved and was proud to be a resident of throughout his life.
Bound by a shared faith in God, Joe and Ruth were dedicated to family. They raised three daughters on land that had been farmed by his grandparents since the 1800s, a place where some of his grandchildren are raising their own families today.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Christine; daughters Karen (Scott) Clements of Belforest, Margaret (John O'Donnell) Garrett of Atlanta, Georgia and Lynn (Jim) McWhorter of Mobile; grandchildren, Alyssa (Steve) Morisani, Carl (Kristen) Wade, Sarah (Eddie) Siefert, Matthew (Emily) McWhorter, Jordan (Taylor) Graham, June (Jeff) Plunkett and Amber Cook; great-grandchildren, Stephen Morisani, Lucy Morisani, Gianna Morisani, Philip Morisani, Andrew Morisani, Peter Morisani, Margherita Morisani, William Wade, Emily Wade, Jeremiah Wade, Hillary Siefert, Garrett Siefert, Maggie Stewart, Emma Plunkett and Jacob Plunkett. He is also survived by his brother, James Malcolm Garrett; and sister, Patricia Bagby; several beloved nieces and nephews, and numerous other relatives.
Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 11, from 5-7 p.m. at Wolfe-Bayview Daphne, and the funeral service will be Friday, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m., in the chapel of Wolfe-Bayview Daphne.
Interment will follow in Belforest Community Cemetery.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., 27409 U.S. Hwy. 98, Daphne, Alabama 36526, 251-625-2900, www.wolfefuneralhomes.com.
