Donald H. Garrett M.D.

Held in love and gratefulness by his family, Donald H. Garrett, M.D. died on 30 March 2024 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital. He was born in Oklahoma City on January 2, 1941, to his parents Phyllis and Tom Garrett. As the youngest of six children, he enjoyed all the privileges and perks that went with being the baby. In 1959 he graduated from Harding High School where he was permanently banned from the library for signing a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence! He attended the University of Oklahoma where he ultimately completed his training in cardiothoracic surgery. He then joined his lifelong friend Richard Allgood in Lawton where they practiced together for many rewarding years.

A lifelong Sooner....he happily retired to Norman, OK where he could walk to games and hear the Pride playing from his back porch. His "accomplishments" as a Sooner included attending over 60 OU/TEXAS football games, and enjoying over 65 seasons of Sooner football with his family, using the same seats his Dad got in the 1940’s. He pledged Beta Theta Pi and received the Regent's Award from the University of Oklahoma. Looking for a way to “give back”, Don made over thirty trips to the impoverished areas of Guatemala as a volunteer surgeon with Refuge International. Today a teenage boy is walking through his village because Don was in the clinic when he caught his foot in a motorbike wheel and almost severed it. He loved taking his grandchildren with him and was so proud when some of them entered medical professions.

His numerous honors and volunteer boards pale in comparison to the way he lived his life; one of his sons remarked that “he was always there.” If a grandchild or a pet needed sutures, he was there; if a neighbor needed to go the hospital, he took him (Don often said that he needed a red light on top of his car!), If one of his children had an accident, he went to the emergency room. If one of his granddaughters had an earache and could not fly, he drove her to St. Louis to meet her parents. If a son needed help with a dog that had died, he was there. The list of help he gave to all his friends and family is endless; we are blessed because he took such good care of so many of us. He was always THERE standing in the background waiting to help.

He loved being in a Colorado stream fly fishing, reading novel after novel, driving through the golden aspens in the fall, attending OU bowl games, floating the Grand Canyon, walking his dalmatian, taking road trips, riding seadoos at Possum Kingdom Lake, and letting the grandchildren put the cookies in his famous homemade Oreo ice cream.

His loss is profoundly felt but there is grace in living one’s life until the last few days. In the four days before he went to the hospital, he attended a wedding shower for a granddaughter, ate a Johnnie's burger with his daughter and her son, drove Meals on Wheels with his wife, got a haircut and worked out at physical therapy. His was a life well-lived; one that made remarkable memories with friends and his family.

Don was predeceased by his parents Tom and Phyllis and five siblings: Tom, Joe, Robert, Jean, and Jerry. Don leaves behind the greatest parts of his life; his survivors include his wife of 63 years Judy; Jennifer Bethel and her husband Steve ; Dr. Jeff Garrett and his wife Shannon; Bryan Garrett and his wife Kena; and twelve grandchildren…..Dr. Garrett Bethel and his wife Quinn; Harris Bethel, Boyd Bethel, Bryn Bethel and Reeves Bethel; Dr. Morgan Garrett and her fiancé Kellen; Madison LeForce and her husband Peter; Cole Garrett and Blake Garrett; Hank Garrett, Georgia Garrett and Eliza Garrett; his adored dalmatian Doridog and what seems like at least 100 fly rods!!!

The family wishes to thank his medical team who cared for him for several years: Dr. Tom Merrill, Dr. Robert Remondino, Dr. Bridger Cox, Dr. Ben White, Dr Brook Scott, Dr. Robert Weinecke, Dr. Jeff Garrett, Pam Levy and his caregiver Nora Hensley.

OH, HOW WE MISS HIM! POP was an exceptional father, grandfather, friend, and physician.

A celebration of his life will be held April 22, 2024, at 10 am at McFarlin United Methodist Church, 419 South University, Norman, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to the following organizations: Refuge International P.O. Box 3586, Longview, Texas 75606 and Meals on Wheels of Norman, P.O. Box 1371, Norman, Ok (in memory of Donald H Garrett, M.D) or mealsonwheelsnorman.com