Merle K. Garrette's Obituary
Merle K. (Butch) Garrette, Jr. of Miami, passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at Joplin, Missouri. He was 73 years old. Mr. Garrette was born October 27, 1942, in Miami to Leo Lowry Garrette and Merle K. Garrette, Sr. Butch was a graduate of Commerce High School. He attended Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College and later graduated from Central State University at Edmond in the summer of 1966, where he played collegiate baseball. Following graduation, Butch served 2 years active duty with the U.S. Marine Corp during the Vietnam era. Most of his time was served in Cuba. In 1968, Butch was discharged from active duty with the Marine Corp and started work toward his Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University. Before being admitted to the bar, Butch began his legal career in the City Attorney's office in Oklahoma City as a legal intern. He was there for two years before returning home to Ottawa County where he served 27 months in the District Attorney's office. He headed the D.A.'s office after the resignation of Frank Grayson until the appointment of Ron Stockwell. At that time, he went into private practice. Later he and Ron Stockwell, began a law partnership that lasted some 20 years operating under the name of Garrette and Stockwell. Butch was a member of the American Bar Association, the Oklahoma Bar Association, and the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association. He served as president of the Ottawa County Bar Association, Green Country Bar Association, Chairman of the Ottawa County Democratic Party, and President and Treasurer of the Miami Horseman's Association. Butch married Mary Ethyl Nicks. in Miami, Oklahoma, on July 12, 1973. They made their home in Miami, where Merle (Butch) practiced law and Mary taught Home Economics at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College for 25 years. For a time, they both were also involved as co-owners in Terrace Clothing, a retail operation in Miami. Following retirement in 1997, Butch and Mary began traveling throughout the United States with their horses. Butch trained for himself and other owners, at one time housing more than 35 horses in his stable. This was his true love - grooming and caring for his horses! Because of health problems, Butch finally sold all his horses in 2013. With no horses to care for daily, he and Mary enjoyed traveling for a time. Butch was preceded in death by his parents: Merle, Sr. in 1946, and his mother, Leo, in 2008, and by two sisters, Billie JoAnn Garrette in 1998 and Patsy Lou Martin in 2014. Survivors include Mary, his wife of 43 years of the home, 3 daughters: Jamie Lynne Smith and her husband, David, and Jill Elise Maxson, and her husband, Jim, both of Austin, Texas; Kelly Lee Friend and her husband, Billy, of Miami, and a son, Kenneth Scott Garrette and his wife, Lisa, of Miami. Ten surviving grandchildren include Matthew Scott Garrette of Enid, Oklahoma, Joshua David Garrette, Michael Andrew Garrette , Brant Garrette Walker and Bryson Douglas Walker of Miami, Erika Nichole Maxson, Mike Maxson and his wife Samantha, of Austin, Texas, Caleb Friend, Cade Friend, and Chloe Friend, 2 great grand daughters, Taylor and Emily Maxson, of Austin, Texas, two nieces, Toni Lee Brown, of Miami and Christi Martin Sullivan of Berlin, Connecticut and a nephew, Rick Brown, of Miami. A private interment will be held. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at First Christian Church of Miami on Saturday, November 28, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Christian Church of Miami Building Fund or the Miami Senior Citizens Center.
What’s your fondest memory of Merle?
What’s a lesson you learned from Merle?
Share a story where Merle's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Merle you’ll never forget.
How did Merle make you smile?