Minnie Bridges Garrett

Minnie (Mickey) Bridges Garrett, 95, of Romeo, MI, formerly of Port Huron, Decatur and Dowagiac, MI, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2015. She was born November 7, 1919, in Bragg City, MO, the daughter of John and Minnie (Edwards) Bridges. She married William H. Garrett on April 29, 1941 in Kennett, MO. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2015 at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center Street, Dowagiac, with Pastor Orliss Terry officiating. Family and friends will gather and visit from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. after which the service will begin. Those wishing to leave an online memory or condolence of Minnie may do so at www.clarkch.com. Mrs. Garrett was a member of the Dowagiac Missionary Baptist Church which had its inception approximately 59 years ago in Minnie’s dining room. During her life, she served as a church treasurer and teacher for Sunday school, as well as completing training for the union position and ladies’ auxiliary. She also served for many years in several volunteer capacities including; making quilts for the Decatur Fire Department and the Dowagiac Nursing Home, helping at the Free Clothing Store, collecting and distributing food to the needy and working with the Decatur Town Hall to hold soup supper fund raisers for the Christmas food boxes. While living outside of Dowagiac, Mrs. Garrett’s gardens and canned goods were the envy of many. She also worked, at times, outside the home, yet still found time to write her treasured poetry. Finally, her family will forever cherish her homemade quilts created by her loving hands and sewn with the designs from her heart. Mrs. Garrett is survived by a daughter, Bonnie Cummins of Climax, MI, a son, William (Marlene) Garrett of Lakeport, MI, a daughter, Linda (Symeon) Ioannidis of Romeo, MI, a son, David (Karen) Garrett of Barrington, IL; eleven grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and one step sister, Lorene Shipman of Kennett, MO. Minnie was preceded in death by her husband, William, after sixty nine and a half years of marriage; a son, Johnny; two daughters, Mary and Carolyn from a previous marriage; four brothers; a sister and three step brothers.