Carbondale - Thomas Lee Garrett, 86, passed away on Friday, September 8, 2023, at his home near Carbondale, Kansas.

Tom was born on January 5, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Herman Walter and Lola Del (Cummins) Garrett. After spending a few years in Indiana, the family moved to rural Gridley, Kansas when Tom was six years old, where he grew up and graduated high school in May of 1956. He moved to Southern California where he met and married Elaine K. Riley. Tom and Elaine later returned to Kansas in 1963 where they raised their three children, Mike, Lisa and Lynne. Tom and Elaine were married for almost 66 years.

The couple worked together in a number of business ventures, from manufacturing kitchen and bath countertops to selling and designing home products. Tom later went into the construction of custom homes and remodeling for the rest of his career until he retired.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Lola; and by his three brothers, Roy, Howard and Ray.

Tom is survived by his wife, Elaine; his son, Mike Garrett (Cheryl); his two daughters, Lisa  Baldwin (Bruce) and Lynne Cox; his four grandsons, Michael Baldwin (Jessica), Dustin Baldwin, Daniel Cox (Ashley) and Mason Cox; his two granddaughters, Jorrie Varney (Brent) and Jenna Fawl (Jonathan); many great-grandchildren; and his sister, Mary Vannocker (Ted).

Graveside services for Tom will be at 10:00am on Friday, September 15, at Stringtown Cemetery, just north of Wolf Creek Power Plant. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Thursday, at the Feltner Funeral Chapel in Lyndon. Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon's International or Midland Hospice Care, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, KS 66451. Online condolences for the family may be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com.