Elbert Furman “Pat” Garrett Jr.

Elbert Furman “Pat” Garrett Jr. of Gonzales passed away Monday, Jan. 23.

He was born Jan. 15, 1929 in Greenville, South Carolina, the son of Elbert Furman Sr. and Melvina Watson Garrett.

Pat joined the U.S. Army in 1945 and became a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served with the U.S. Army until the creation of the U.S. Air Force in 1947. He then continued his long career with the Air Force attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant and retired on Feb. 1, 1966.

During his military career, Pat served at many Air Force bases worldwide. He was an aide to General Fredrick Smith, who at the time was Commander in Chief of European Forces. He finished his service as a drill instructor at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. After retirement, he worked in the trucking industry and worked for others and was self-employed.

He married Linda Mary Craft on April 10, 1999 in Gonzales. He was employed with Buc-ee’s in Luling, first in maintenance and later as manager of maintenance and was the go-to guy for the general aesthetics of the location with the corporate management. He will be remembered as “Mr. Pat” by the employees of Buc-ee’s.

He enjoyed yardwork and his hobby of raising birds, especially parakeets, finches, doves and pigeons. He drove school buses for the Gonzales Independent School District. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Gonzales. He loved dogs and was active with “Weiner Dog” parades and races. He was an avid Spurs fan and loved his Cincinnati Reds baseball team.

He is survived by his wife Linda Garrett of Gonzales; sons: Scott Garrett and wife Tanya of Houston and Patric Garrett of Conroe; daughter Betsy Shelton and husband Todd of Austin; grandchildren: Davonna Grubbs, Alice Shelton, Julian Shelton, Kody Greenwood, Zachary Garrett, Savannah Callies and Alexandria Garrett; great-grandchildren Amelia Jean Callies and Chelsi Mae Garrett.

He was preceded by his parents, wife Jean Garrett, sisters Eva Terry and Lilly May Jarman; brothers: Herman, Marion, Lawrence and Bob Garrett.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with Dr. Chris Irving officiating along with Scott Garrett and Patric Garrett. Interment will follow at the Belmont Cemetery with full military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force. Arrangements under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home 906 St. Paul Street, Gonzales, TX.