In Remembrance Of
Thomas James Garrison
Thomas
James Garrison, a lifetime resident of Kansas City, Missouri was born August 4,
1939 to Thomas Alexander Garrison and Gertrude (Sears) Garrison and passed away
July 19 after a brief but valiant battle with pneumonia.
Tomâ??s
life was devoted to his family and his chosen profession of pharmacy. Always an avid reader with a particular
interest in the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln he has amassed an extensive
collection of books on those topics.
Since retirement in 2006 he has enjoyed reading even more, averaging at
least six books a month and pursuing his three favorite pastimes; enjoying his
four grandchildren, making frequent visits to our family farm near Gower,
Missouri and traveling.
Beginning
at the age of 13, Tom worked at Pierce Drug Store in the Northeast area of
Kansas City from 1952-1962, beginning as a delivery boy, stock boy and working
behind the soda fountain. He continued
working there through high school and college saving money for his dream of
going to college. After graduation from Northeast High School in
1957, Tom was able to pursue that dream by pursuing a profession in hospital
pharmacy, Graduating With Distinction with a B.S in Pharmacy from the
University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1962.
Upon graduation he worked at both Research Hospital and Menorah Medical
Center in Kansas City. From 1964-1975 he
was Director of Pharmacy at Lakeside Hospital.
In 1975 became Director/Corporate Director of Pharmacy at the University
of Health Sciences Hospital serving there until 1990. From 1990 until his retirement in 2006 he was
Director of Pharmacy at Western Missouri Mental Health Hospital.
In
addition to his work in hospital pharmacy he enjoyed a very active career in
pharmacy professional organizations which included the following: President of the Kansas City Society of Hospital
Pharmacists 1969-1970; President of the Missouri Society of Health System
Pharmacists 1974-1976; member of the Missouri
State Board of Pharmacy 1981-1987 and President
1985; member of National Association of
Boards of Pharmacy 1982-1987; member of Board
of Trustees of American Pharmaceutical Association 1987-1989 and President of
the American Society of Hospital (Health
System) Pharmacists 1983-1984.
Throughout
his forty years of pharmacy practice, he participated in numerous seminars and
institutes speaking to various groups nationally and internationally as he
developed one of the first unit dose and intravenous admixture programs in the
Midwest. He also initiated the first
ASHP (American Society Hospital Pharmacists) accredited residency programs in
Missouri. When working at Western
Missouri Mental Health Hospital he developed a Focused Practicum for
pharmacists wanting experience in the area of psychopharmacy.
Tom
was actively involved as a member of the Board of Old Pike Country Club and
served a term as President. He also
served on Northland Conference Swim Board and was treasurer for a number of
years. He was a founding member of North
Woods Church in which our entire family was involved for many happy years. More recently we have enjoyed the fellowship
of North Cross Methodist Church as members of the Inquirers class and Pleasant
Valley Baptist Church where our son and his family attend.
Since
retiring, Tom and I feel blessed to have been able to enjoy cruises to Alaska,
the Mediterranean, the Baltics, Italy and Croatia, France and the beaches of
Normandy plus a number of trips with our kids to Disneyland, Disneyworld and
two great cruises on the Disney Dream.
Tom
is survived by his wife Dr. Ronilue Beery Garrison with whom he would have
celebrated fifty years of marriage on August 21, his son Dr. Matthew Thomas
Garrison and wife Kay, four beloved and beautiful grandchildren, Paige Marie
(16), Blair Elizabeth (13), Tate Matthew (9) and Blake Catherine (4). Tom was one of nine children all of whom have
lived in Kansas City all of their lives with the exception of one brother. Their devotion to each other is absolutely
remarkable and something I, as his wife and an only child myself, have
witnessed and will continue to treasure.
They are: Shirley LaBruzzo, Barbara Hixson, Marilyn Hammes (Al), Glenn
Garrison (Lynn), Ron Garrison (Kathy), Michael Garrison and Dan Garrison.
In
addition he had sixteen nieces and nephews and a number of great nieces and
nephews all of whom have made Thanksgivings and Christmases memorable and fun.
Tom
was preceded in death by his parents, a brother John Garrison and our beloved
son Chad Ronald Garrison in 2001.
If
they have greeters at the gates of Heaven everyone who knew Chad knows heâ??ll be
first in line (if God will let him) with that huge smile on his face, his arms
open wide and Tom will be loved, welcomed and so happy and healthy again.
Visitation/Service: Thursday, July 23 at North Cross Methodist
Church, 1321 NE Vivion Road, Kansas City, MO 64118. Visitation 11:00 â?? 1:00; Service 1:00 p.m.
Private
family burial: following service at
Allen Cemetery, Gower, Missouri.
In
lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to John Priest Greene Society,
Student Scholarships, William Jewell College, 500 College Hill, Liberty,
Missouri 64068
Arrangements: Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower, Missouri
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Comments & condolences
14 comments
George L. Oestreich
I was shocked and saddened when I heard of Tom’s passing. Pharmacy an I owe a great debt to him. I will always cherish the many things I learned from him and the kindnesses he showed to me. There was no one I would have rather worked with and no one whose opinion and counsel I valued more.My thoughts and prayers are with Ronilue, your family and extended family. God’s grace to you and thank you for sharing Tom with us.
Denise David Hixson
There are not enough words to express how very sorry we are. He showed his love for his family everyday. There will be a huge hole in the Garrison family. Tom will be greatly missed.
John Armitstead
God Bless Tom and all who knew him. His leadership in pharmacy practice was extraordinary and highly valued. He will be missed, yet remembered for time to come. Prayers for the family.
William and Trudy Kelly
So sorry to learn of this. We will always cherish our memories of our times with you and Tom.Bill
Henri Manasse
Tom was a respected leader in our profession. It was my privilege and an honor to have known him. Our sincerest sympathies and condolences to the entire family. May good memories sustain you.
Clifford Hynniman
Ronilue and FamilyI am so sorry to learn of Tom’s passing. We served on the ASHP Board together and during the earlier years shared ideas on drug distribution systems while I was at the University of Kentucky Hospital. I always enjoyed our time and travels together and have missed seeing you both over the years. My sympathy to you and the family.Cliff
William E. Smith, PharmD, MPH, PhD, FASHP{
Tom – was a great person and a great professional. I recall visiting Tom and wife in his home, many years ago. I recall his nice smile and easy laugh. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers to his terrific family.bill smith
Ruth Hartwig (B. David)
So sorry to hear of your loss. Tom was a groomsman in our wedding. (1962)
Fred Tonnies
Tom was a good mentor to a lot of pharmacists and a good friend to each of them. He helped everyone that he can in contact with and made them a better person and a better pharmacist. He devoted a lot of his time to the profession and made it better for those that followed in his footsteps. He will be missed by all.
Harold N. Godwin
Judy and I provide our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Tom. What a legacy Tom has provided to others during his his life and professional career!. His sustained leadership in the pharmacy profession created an impact that will be remembered forever.
Marianne F. Ivey
Dear Ronnilue,I am so sorry to hear of the death of Tom. He and I served ASHP together in the early 1980’s as presidential officers and we had a wonderful professional experience with Dr. Joseph Oddis and members of the ASHP staff. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. I know you have many wonderful memories and a warm and loving family.Marianne
Gail Haynes
my prayer and thought are with the family
Bruce Clayton
It is with genuine regret and sorrow that I have learned of the too-early death of my old friend Tom Garrison. I shall always think of my friend from grade school days as “Tommy” because that’s what we called him both at Scarritt Grade School in Kansas City, Missouri, and then at junior and senior high school in our old neighborhood, now called Historic Northeast. Along with other good friends like Howard Williams and Roy Beaty. Tommy attended what used to be called Kansas City Junior College and the four of us and other former Vikings shared driving responsibilities to what was a very challenging academic environment. During our days at Northeast Senior High School Tommy and I co-wrote a weekly sports column we playfully called “The Benchriders’ and shared many a great game of pickup basketball in the old bandbox gymnasium of the socially-minded Independence Boulevard Christian Church. Long let its name be praised. In addition to being a good student and a student leader. “Tommy,” as I shall always remember him. exuded good cheer and charity of spirit. Put simply he enriched the lives of everyone who ever knew him. I shall forever cherish the memory of this successful business man, good husband and father, proud native of Northeast neighborhood who came to resemble, remarkably, Cary Grant as he grew older! He made all of us want to be be better people and we will remember him with genuine fondness.
Bert McClary
I will always remember Tom as one of my pharmacy heroes, a fellow student, mentor, employer and friend. He was a special person from the first time I met him, the first student I met on the University of Kansas City campus in 1961, to the last afternoon and evening I was fortunate to spend with him last year. One of his greatest legacies is the Missouri Society of Health-System Pharmacists, founded in 1970 from a vision by Tom and two of his Missouri colleagues. Not many of our current active members had the pleasure of knowing Tom, but they all know of him because his legacy is reflected in the Thomas A. Garrison Award, which is given periodically to a MSHP member in recognition of sustained contributions to MSHP and the practice of pharmacy.His personal and professional families have both lost a great leader and friend.