A Legacy To Remember
By Zoe Tarinelli
James Kenyon Garrett
6/15/1919 - 5/9/1985
James Kenyon Garrett was born on June 15th, 1919, in Silver Plume, Clear Creek County, Colorado.[1] His hometown of Silver Plume is a historic mining town nestled in the Rocky Mountains along Interstate 70. It was once a silver mining community but is now known for its well-preserved 19th-century buildings, scenic mountain views, and outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing. Growing up, he was the only child of his father, James Turner Garrett, who lived from 1871 to 1953, and his mother, Helen D Kenyon Garrett, who lived from 1877 to 1940. Not much else is known about his childhood, but it is known that Garrett registered for the US Army on October 16th, 1940, at the age of 21. He registered in the town of Boulder, Colorado, where he was a student at the University of Colorado Boulder. During his time in college, he was very involved on campus and was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Garrett was enlisted in World War II on July 10th, 1942, where he served in the US Army. During his time in WWII, he received the rank of sergeant, where he played a crucial role in military operations, serving as a leader and a supervisor within his unit. Some of his day-to-day tasks during his time in WWII would likely include managing soldiers, carrying out orders from higher-ranking officers, training and mentoring soldiers, and maintaining discipline. Additionally, if placed in a combat situation, Garrett would have led small groups, such as squads or sections, and made tactical decisions on the ground while adapting to changing battlefield conditions. He would also play a vital role in maintaining morale, managing supplies, and ensuring the health and welfare of his soldiers. Overall, his leadership and experience were critical in maintaining order and efficiency, particularly during battle.
Garrett served in WWII until he was discharged on October 10th, 1945. During his post-war life, Garrett worked in the banking business, and his most recent title was as Director of Marketing at the Colorado State Bank, where he worked for about 20 years. He was actively involved in his community, and it has been found that he was a past member of the Cherry Point Masonic Lodge and a previous chairman of the Colorado Installment Bankers Commission. Garrett was also a husband and a father during his life. On March 16th, 1944, he married Betty Lou Ford in Pennington, South Dakota. He and his wife lived on Mississippi Ave in Denver, Colorado, where together they had 3 children: a daughter, Kathleen Garrett, and two sons, James K Garrett Jr., and Kevin T Garret. James Kenyon Garrett eventually died on May 9th, 1985, at the age of 64 in Denver, Colorado. He had a memorial service held for him on June 17th at St Martin Chapel of St John Episcopal Cathedral. His wife, Betty Lou, passed several years later in 2004. After his passing, he was put to rest in Fort Logan National Cemetery, where he received his final roll call on June 25th, 2016, nearly 31 years after his death.
Footnotes ↓
[1] Infomrtaion for this biography can be found at:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166111048/james-kenyon-garrett https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/JAMESKENYONGARRETT/AC5FD23. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/171955764/person/262258932813/media/8e2c2a9e-2eba-41ef-a207-e0855f10d217
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