Garret Allen Scarbrough, age 83, of Ava, Missouri, departed this life for his Heavenly Home on Thursday, February 25, in Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO, with his loved ones by his bedside.
Garret was born June 29, 1937, in McLeansboro, Illinois, to William Berlin and Hilda Lucille (Vaughn) Scarbrough. He was raised and lived nearly all his years in Wayne County, Illinois, graduating from Wayne City High School in 1955, and later proudly serving his country in the United States Army. On November 15, 1964, Garret married the love of his life, Wilma June McGrew, and to this union a son and daughter were born.
The Scarbroughs continued to make Wayne County their home where they raised their children, and Garrett worked and expanded the family farm with the help of his brothers and nephews.
Garret and Wilma moved to Ava in October of 2019 to be closer to family, especially eager to spend more time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They also enjoyed attending Seymour Holiness Church. For many years, Garret was a significant philanthropist for The Bible Society and a variety of other missions.
In addition to his parents, Garret was preceded in death by a baby brother, Berlin Scarbrough, his sister, Gail Simpson, and a sister-in-law, Frances McGrew.
He leaves behind his devoted wife of over fifty-six years, Wilma June Scarbrough; their children, Paul Scarbrough and his wife Margaret, of Fairfield, Illinois, and Crystal Meredith and her husband Chris, of Ava, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren, Christopher and Megan Meredith, Christian and Nickole Meredith, Chason Meredith, Chrissa and Jeremy Howton, Crisann and Beren Quinalty, Crislynn Meredith, Kevin and Savannah Alan, Dustin Scarbrough, Amanda Darling, Ashley Chapman, Alecia Scarbrough, Tammy Scarbrough, Angel, and Curtis, and eight great-grandchildren; brother Donnie Scarbrough and his wife Omega, and brother-in-law Elmer Simpson, all of Fairfield, brother-in-law Donald McGrew of Xenia, Illinois; and three sisters-in-law, Wanda Harrell and her husband Edward, of Flora, Illinois, Janice Irvin and her husband Eddie, of Dale, Illinois, and Nancy Hamilton and her husband Raymond Jr., of Mattoon, Illinois; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends, church family, and comrades.
Services were held in Missouri on March 1.