Cora Garrett Myers

Cora Garrett Myers, longtime Cleveland area resident passed away on Friday, March 14, 2003 at the Cleveland Area Hospital at the age of one hundred one years, ten months and five days.

Cora was born May 9, 1901 in Marshall, Searcy County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Ann and C. A. Johnson. Cora was raised and attended school in Marshall. She was married to Herbert C. Garrett on February 21, 1920 in Marshall.

Shortly after their marriage, the couple traveled via horse drawn wagon and established their home in Prue, Oklahoma. They had three children while residing in Prue, Eugene, Willa Dean and Earlene. In 1924, one of Coraís fondest memories of her life was achieved when Herbert and Cora walked hand in hand into the Arkansas River, near Boston Pool and were baptized together. In 1931 they relocated to a farm near the Boston Pool area where their youngest child, Shirley was born. While residing in the Boston Pool area and providing for her husband and children, Cora still found herself on the end of a hoe, chopping and picking cotton, an activity she considered one of her favorite pastimes.

In 1946 the couple moved to Cleveland as Herbert purchased and operated the DX Service Station on east Caddo. Cora could often be found assisting in the day to day operation of the station. After moving to Cleveland, the couple moved their church membership to the First Baptist Church and Cora has remained a faithful member as long as her health would allow her to attend. Herbert preceded her in death on June 9, 1963.

Cora loved to fish and travel. Prior to the death of her husband, the couple would often travel to Arkansas with their best friends, Oscar and Bessie Grantham. However, Cora always was glad to return home to the community she considered her favorite place on earth, Cleveland. She often said that Cleveland had the best people anywhere.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and was proud that she was always able to provide a clean home that was always full of love. Her devotion to her family could be seen in her daily life, she always was more concerned with the welfare of her children and grandchildren than her own. Cora considered her father as the sweetest man to ever come into her life and that his love and influence is what made her so family oriented. She felt that raising her four children was her greatest accomplishment in life. Coraís love for her friends was also one of her obvious traits. She often indicated that being a good friend and having a good heart was one of the things that contributed to her long life.

Cora was the fourth resident at the Baptist Retirement Village in Cleveland. She continued to reside in the village for nearly seventeen years and had many fond memories of her time and fellowship with the residents there. She enjoyed playing cards and games and was often found in the sunroom and visiting area. She has been residing with her daughters, Shirley and Willa Dean, for the past couple of years, as they have assisted with her health. Although, Cora would suggest that she was the caregiver and not the girls. Cora often indicated that she was grateful that the Lord allowed her to live as long as she did so she could spend more time with her children and grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Cora was preceded in death by her parents; son, Eugene Garrett, daughter, Earlene Lawrence; brother, Marvin Johnson and six sisters, Ora Patterson, Lora Brown, Edna Cox, Vergie Johnson, Blanche ìTootsî Hammond and Mildred Corbell.

She is survived by two daughters, Willa Dean Brumley, Cleveland, Oklahoma and Shirley and Charles Thompson of Cleveland, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren, Deanna Lemmons, Sharon Kaye Henderson, Vickie Tinsley, Ronnie Garrett, Donnie Garrett, Donna Jo Trimble, Susie Clayton, Jimmy Lawrence, Jerry Lawrence, Debbie Jo Dyer and Sammie Shawn Bryant; twenty-three great grandchildren; twenty-three great great-grandchildren and two great great great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, March 18, 2003 at the First Baptist Church in Cleveland with Dr. Larry Wilson and Rev. George Boston officiating. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc.

ìVisit an online obituary and guestbook for Cora Myers at www.chapman-black.com.î