James Wallace Garison

James ‘Jim' Wallace Garison, 91, of El Dorado, Ark. died on June 22, 2012 at Courtyard Nursing Home. Born on Feb. 11, 1921 in El Dorado, Ark., he was the son of John Proctor Garison and Patty Wallace Garison. Lt. Garison served as a pilot in the ‘237th Fly Boys' in Army Air Corp during World War II. He attended Hendrix College and graduated from the University of Missouri where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Upon returning to El Dorado he joined his family's firm J.P. Garison and Company. James served on the Board of Directors of the Exchange Bank from 1969 to 1993. Active in the community, James was a Boy Scout leader and was instrumental in the building of the Desoto Boy Scout Camp. A person of deep personal faith Jim told his wife Shirley "I am glad our children go to Church." He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church where he taught a well attended youth Sunday School Class keeping the same children for several years. Jim enjoyed nature through his gardening, golf, tennis and snow skiing in Colorado. He skied until he was 80 years young. He loved to hunt turkey, deer, ducks and trout fish in Montana and Colorado. Sam Cyphers said Jim's "compass always read true." James was preceded in death by his parents and a son in law David Kiernan. Survivors are his wife, Shirley Martin Garison of El Dorado; daughters, Carol Kiernan of Little Rock, Suzanne Garison of Snowmass Village, Colo.; sons, James ‘Jim' Wallace (Jerri) Garison Jr. of Frisco, Texas and Andrew ‘Andy' Martin (Kay) Garison of Little Rock; a brother, Jack (Jane) Garison of Hot Springs Village, along with a granddaughter, Rebecca Garison and a grandson, Andrew Garison Jr. Funeral services will be 2 p.m, Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church with Dr. Jim Polk and Rev Mike Blanchard officiating. Interment will follow at Arlington Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday evening at Young's Funeral Directors. The family wishes to thank Leola Brown, John Hay, Pat Robinson, the staff of Courtyard Nursing Home and Life Touch Hospice. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 200 South Hill Street, El Dorado, Ark. 71730 or Life Touch Hospice, 2301 Champagnolle Rd, El Dorado, Ark. 71730. An online registry is available at www.youngfuneralhome.com.