T. L. (Terry) Garrett

Celebration of Life Services for T. L. (Terry) Garrett, 82, were held on Tuesday at Trinity Church. Pastor Garrett died Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. Services were under the direction of Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. Visitors may wish to sign his virtual guestbook and view his Life Tribute, a video of photographs set to his favorite music.

T.L. lived in Lubbock most of his life. He married Yvonne Hampton on Aug. 17, 1956, in Lubbock. He attended Lubbock schools and Life Bible College in Los Angeles, California.

Pastor Garrett served as the Executive Pastor at Trinity Church in Lubbock for many years, having served there since May 1985. He retired from staff but was still active in counseling and pastoral roles. He also served as an Elder there. Previous to that, he served as the pastor of churches in Texarkana, Atlanta, Plainview, and Lubbock. He had also been an employee of the Postal Service for 27 years before retiring in 1985.

He was an avid backpacker and enjoyed the outdoors. For over 45 years, he took groups on backpacking trips exposing them to a week in the wilderness in New Mexico. The men from his church family who went with him called him the "Walking Eagle".

He loved opportunities to take the Gospel to the world. He had traveled to China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Europe to present the Gospel. During the last few years in active ministry, he had traveled to Africa a number of times as an associate trainer for equipping leaders with the John Maxwell organization, Equip. He loved the Kenyan and South African people and was always ready to go again to minister to them. He preached in open-air arenas to thousands and loved telling stories of his individual encounters with the people of Africa as he shared the love of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Jan McCrary; children, Ed and wife, Beth, Tim and wife, Janet, Trey Martindale and wife, Kim, Shawna McCabe and husband, Michael; four grandsons, Aaron and wife, Denita, Grant and wife, Stephanie, Storm, and J. Paul; six grand-daughters, Tiffany and husband, Austin, Baylee, Darcy, Olivia, Lauren, and Grace; two great-granddaughters, Shelby, and Britney Garrett Sloan and husband, Riley; two great-grandsons, Wyatt Lincoln Garrett and Jackson Grant Garrett; one great-great-granddaughter, Olivia Sloan; and one brother, Merlin, of Plano, Texas.

One brother, Roger, and his sister, Fran, preceded him in death. His wife of 58 years, Yvonne, preceded him in death in 2014.

In 2018 he married Jan McCrary of Littlefield, who brought him great joy—traveling to France, Italy, the Middle East, and across the United States, with trips to many National Parks. They enjoyed life together until his passing.

He has been a member of Trinity Church since 1984. He was a licensed and ordained minister since 1960. He was a certified International Stephen's Ministry instructor and had published articles for them and for Rev! Magazine. He was also a licensed church consultant and had been an adjunct teacher at CFNI Bible College in Dallas.

Memorials

The family suggests memorials to Malta Farms (whose mission is to restore broken men) in T. L.'s name. (Malta Farms is a faith-based 501c3 program that assists men coming from addictive lifestyles with their transition back into the community). Malta Farms, 13908 FM 400 Slaton, Texas 79364.

Condolences may be sent to Jan McCrary at 4111 102nd Street, Lubbock, Texas 79423.