Obituaries

Garrison, Ray H.

Age: 89
Passed Away: 2012-05-23
Funeral Home: T.W. Crow & Son Funeral Home

Ray H. Garrison, 89, attorney, author, lecturer, public servant, storyteller and beloved husband and uncle, died at Advocate South Suburban Hospital on May 23, 2012. He was a longtime resident of Flossmoor, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.

Mr. Garrison was born Aug. 6, 1922, in Allen County, Ky., to Emmett Washington Garrison and Ollie Irene Keen. He was the youngest of eight children who included five brothers, Charles Erskine Garrison of Scottsville, Earl Emmett Garrison of Frankfort, Lester Murl Garrison of Bowling Green, Hobart Jewell Garrison of Scottsville and Hoy Ewell Garrison of Indianapolis, all deceased, and two sisters, Lillian Garrison Hire of Scottsville, also deceased, and Zula Clarice Garrison, who died in infancy. Ray married Eunice Ann Bolz on Oct. 7, 1961, in Decatur, Ill.

Ray attended schools in Allen County, graduating from high school in 1940. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago. He was licensed to practice law in Kentucky and Illinois and admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Customs Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. His biographical sketch appears in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.

He served as special assistant, special attorney and assistant regional counsel for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and as a trial lawyer for the U.S. government for several years, before becoming the general tax attorney for Navistar International Corp., formerly International Harvester Co. Ray was elected to the Illinois Constitutional Convention Committee on revenue and finance (1969-70), and was a commissioner on the Illinois Racing Board for 14 years. Since 1990, Ray served as the corporate counsel for the Balmoral Racing Club and Balmoral Park Harness Racing Track. He consulted with federal, state and local government entities through the years in various areas of his expertise including taxation, finance and the reorganization of municipal governments.

He was the author of several publications about law, taxes, horse racing and Kentucky history and frequently lectured about these subjects. He was a lifetime member of the Kentucky Historical Society, the Filson Historical Society, a founding member of the Allen County Kentucky Historical Society, a member of the Mecklenberg Historical Association, the American Bar Association, Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society and the Cumberland Valley Civil War Heritage Association. Ray was a natural storyteller, drawing upon his extensive knowledge of history in general and in particular Kentucky history and its participation in the Civil War. At the time of his passing he was writing a book about the Civil War and guerrilla warfare in the borderlands of southcentral Kentucky and northcentral Tennessee.

Ray was an active member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Homewood, Ill. He taught Sunday school at St. Andrews and often used “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren as a study guide. Through the years Ray mentored and helped many young people though difficult situations and decisions sharing his wide knowledge of the law, history and life with them.

He is survived by his wife, Eunice Bolz Garrison; and nine nephews and nieces, Marjorie Jo Garrison Allen of Lexington, Betty Garrison Cox Pelle of Jacksonville, Fla., Patty Garrison Morris of Milton, Fla., Joyce Faye Garrison of Bowling Green, Hoy Wayne Garrison of Big Canoe, Ga., Dr. Delroy Hire of Pensacola, Fla., Charlotte Garrison Rogish of Novelty, Ohio, Sondra Garrison Sparks of Dunwoody, Ga., and Jerry Hobart Garrison of Allen County.

A memorial service and visitation were held Tuesday at Panozzo Brothers Funeral Home, 530 W. 14th (Route 30 Crossroads), in Chicago Heights, Ill. A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday at T.W. Crow & Son Funeral Home, 201 N. Court Street, Scottsville KY 42164, with interment at 10:30 a.m. in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Old Glasgow Road, Scottsville.

Condolences may be made online at www.twcrowfuneralhome.com.

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