Ted Garrison

Theodore, aka Ted or T.W., Garrison was born December 10th, 1932 and passed on January 16th, 2025 at the age of 92. He was the oldest of four children born to Theodore 'Wayne' Garrison, and Geneva Matteson Garrison of Joplin, MO. 

He is survived by his brother David Garrison of Joplin, MO and sister Diane Noel who resides part time in Friendswood, TX and Branson, MO. His youngest brother Steve Garrison preceded him in death. T.W. met and married Loretta Orler when they were just teens. He is survived by Loretta, and they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in 2024. He is also survived by his sons Alan and Bruce, and Bruce's wife Debbie, as well as their three children and nine grandchildren. He is survived by his daughter Carla and her husband Nathan Kester, as well as their three children and six grandchildren.

T.W. grew up in Joplin, MO and went to Joplin Junior College for two years, completing his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He then attended the University of Missouri Medical School in Columbia, MO and was in the first four year medical school class. He did a rotating internship in St. Louis after which he and Loretta moved their family to Camdenton, MO. They formed the Camdenton Medical Center and D.B. Holley M.D. joined him at the outset. Their third partner was Bill Carnell, M.D.

In the early 1970's T.W. felt impressed to do medical missions. He and Loretta joined Campus Crusade for Christ. They were part of the first Agape medical mission team.


They moved to San Bernardino, CA in 1973 for training, and then served in Seoul, South Korea in 1974-75. When they returned to the states, T.W. worked in Buffalo, MO with Dr. Carnell and then later worked at Lake Ozark Regional Hospital where he was the first emergency room physician. Loretta worked alongside him from the beginning of his medical career, and eventually obtained her physician assistant degree. T.W. and Loretta also spent six months doing medical missions in Swaziland, South Africa in 1976.

He remained active in his local church, teaching Sunday School, teaching finance classes, serving on committees and at one point was on the Sunday school board of the Southern Baptist convention. He was part of World Thrust, which was a global outreach ministry affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ.

He loved riding motorcycles and in fact owned a Harley-Davidson when he and Loretta married, but didn't own a car. That changed once they were expecting their first child! He and Loretta kept riding motorcycles and even in his later years, he switched to a Harley trike and finally gave it to Bruce when he was 89. Old Arthur (arthritis) was affecting him and it became too hard to get on and off the bike, even with Loretta's help!

T.W. and Loretta moved to Springfield a few years ago and then moved to Texas last year. Alan, Bruce and Debbie have lived in Texas for years, so when Carla and Nathan moved to Texas last year, T.W. and Loretta moved to Texas as well so they could be close to all of their children.

T.W. was an amazing man. He was very intelligent, hard working, and loved the Lord. He was skilled in the art of medicine and passed that on to Carla. He touched more lives than you can imagine, not only as a physician, but was instrumental in introducing people to the Lord as well as discipling them.

Loretta Garrison resides at Edition Senior Living in the assisted living community. The address is 820 West McLeroy, Room 117, Saginaw, Texas 76179.