Olan Dean Garrett

Dean was born July 9, 1932, in Pelican, Louisiana, to Thomas Charles Garrett and Esther Mae Hight Garrett and God called him home on Sunday, December 25, 2022, in Mansfield, Louisiana

Dean was a lifetime resident of the Lula Community in Desoto Parish. He was a very hard worker and began his first paying job at the age of 14 as a Cowboy, rounding up and penning cows and bulls for cattle companies with his horse Dan and his dogs. Later he started working at the Mansfield Auction Barn as a foreman, a job that he loved. He also broke and trained horses for himself and the public.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Dean taught himself to weld at a very young age which landed him a welding job at Nabors Trailers in Mansfield. Years later he worked overseas as a welder on drilling rigs in the North Sea, Brazil, Holland, and Scotland for Penrod Drilling Company. He operated heavy equipment, did dozer work clearing land, and worked on the expansion project of Hwy 171. Dean worked for the DeSoto Parish Police Jury for 32 years and retired at the age of 85.

Dean absolutely loved deer and fox hunting with his dogs. He also enjoyed participating in Field Trials with his fox hounds and won numerous trophies. Dean also had a passion for raising a garden and loved giving it away to family and friends, raising cows, chickens, and horses, but the thing he loved and enjoyed most was spending time with his grandchildren.

Dean is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Charles Garrett and Esther Mae Hight Garrett Rascoe; son, Danny Dean Garrett; grandson, Corey Dean Roberts; great-granddaughter, Katelyn Garrett; brother, Thomas Charles Garrett, Jr.; and sisters, Mary Boyt and Edith McElroy.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 70 years, Betty Jean Tarkington Garrett; children, Carolyn Roberts Calhoun and husband, Larry, Ronald Garrett and wife, Brenda, Charlie Garrett and wife, Donna, Freda Smith and husband, Randy; grandchildren, Bridgette, Shane, Jason, Cara, Justin, Brandon, Hunter, Danny, James, Josh, Deziray, Dalton, Shelby, Morgan, Matt, Chase, Ashley, and Veronica, numerous great-grandchildren and his loving sister Missy Carroll.

Honoring Dean as pallbearers will be Larry Calhoun, Randy Smith, Vic Garrett, Rodney Rascoe, Ronnie Latham, and G.W. Hatcher.  Honorary pallbearers will be Don English, Bob Hight, and Chal Rascoe.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Olan Dean Garrett will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Old Union Baptist Church, Benson, Louisiana. Reverend Delman Rogers and Reverend Alton Middleton will be officiating the service. Burial will follow at Old Union Cemetery, Benson, Louisiana.  A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at the church from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.