Jesse Howard Garrison

Jesse Bud Garrison May 18, 1924 - August 19, 2009 MONMOUTH - Bud Garrison was a respected and dedicated husband, father and teacher. He was born in Laurel, Nebraska on May 18, 1924 to Charles and Disey Garrison. His family "dust-bowled" out of Nebraska and settled in the Yakima Valley of Washington State where they picked fruit and did other types of farm labor. Bud served as a bombardier, navigator and aerial gunman in the Army Air Corp during WWII. He was part of the liberation force at Auschwitz and attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Upon returning to Washington, he married Adel Walter and resumed his education at Central Washington State College where he completed his bachelor's degree on the GI bill. His first teaching job was at Sunnyside, Washington where he earned the "tremendous salary of $2, 800/year." Bud and Adel had three daughters, Marcy, Leslie and Deon. They lived in Pullman, Washington as Bud completed his Masters and Doctorate degrees in a joint program between WSU and Columbia. His first professorship was at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. After three years, the family came to Oregon in 1959 where he was principal of the Campus Elementary School. In 1961, Bud began teaching at Oregon College of Education WOU. While there he was recognized as an outstanding teacher and leader. As chair of the department of education , he was privileged to accept the Gold Award from AACTE on behalf of the college for the outstanding teacher education program in the nation. On May 1, 1970, Bud was married to Shirley Kirkelie. They continued in their respective teaching roles until retirement in 1983. Thereafter, winters were spent in Mesa, Arizona at a retirement resort, Venture Out. He was active in park politics and was elected to the Social Board and later president of the Condo Board. Bud played golf and learned to play tennis while in Arizona. He always enjoyed a good hand of cards. They returned to Monmouth fulltime in 1998 to renew old friendships and to work in their garden and greenhouse. Bud is survived by his wife Shirley; daughters, Marcy Bauersfeld Kevin; Leslie Garrison Royce Page; and Deon Husak Steve; grandchildren, Neil and Dane Bauersfeld, Amy and Nick Gordon, Telma and Marco Page, and Sandra Garrison Page. He has eight great-grandchildren. He wanted to thank everyone at Evergreen Hospice in Albany and Dr. Laura Ouellette for all the wonderful care he received. Donations may be made to Western Oregon University Foundation Elementary Education Scholarship Fund. Services for Bud will be Monday, August 31st at 10:00 AM at Christ's Church in Monmouth.