Beatrice Garner

On Tuesday August 22nd, our beloved Beatrice Marie Garner went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was halfway through her 74th trip around the sun and will be dearly missed.

We welcome friends and family to celebrate her life with us at The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, Saturday Sept 2nd at 4:00 PM, with the Reverend David Romanik leading us. Arrangements are with The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Bea was born in Waco, TX on January 21st, 1949 to Arthur and Mary Francis Barrett. Arthur's many jobs required Bea to move around the country, sometime two or three times a year. This would give her an invaluable ability to engage and connect with people regardless of how long she knew them. She had an ability to make everyone feel welcome and appreciated. She ultimately graduated high school from Burnt Hills Ballston Lake in Burnt Hill, New York and attended college at McMurry('72).

January 25th, 1969, she married James Garner Jr., of Abilene, and they welcomed their only child Lydia Caroline White on September 7th, 1976. Bea taught at Eula High School her entire career-retiring in 2007, teaching a variety of classes including History and Art, with the latter being a lifelong passion. She was very active working on her craft and is having one of her pieces on display at McMurry's Centennial Home Coming festivities this October.

She is preceded in death by Arthur and Mary Francis Barrett, James (Sr.) and Evelyn Garner, and Brother In Law Clifford Garner. She is survived by her husband James(Butch) Garner, daughter Lydia White, Son in Law Corby White, her sister Caroline Demarkis, her grandchildren Cooper James White, Adeline Elizabeth White, and Harper Emmaline White, as well as her Sister-In-Law Reena Garner and numerous nephews and a niece.

Granna Bea was an avid collector of all things "Bee" and again was a wonderful artist. She loved being a "Granna" and spoiling everyone with her legendary cookies. She would surprise people with her personal paintings, and then bashfully deflect compliments. She was just a really, really, neat person whom her friends and family will always miss.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to The Center for Contemporary Arts 220 Cypress Street
Abilene, Texas 79601 for their summer Art Camp in Beatrice Garner's name.

Checks are to be made to the Center for Contemporary Art with ART CAMP/BEA GARNER on the memo line or Venmo @centerarts