Elizabeth Ann (McHan) Garrison

Elizabeth “Betty McHan Garrison passed away peacefully on June 18, leaving a love-filled home that she shared with her late husband, William “Tommy” Garrison until his death in 2013.  Betty’s childhood home had been on land that is now Madison’s Town Park.  Her parents were James N & Josie J McHan.  Shortly after graduating from Morgan County High School in 1951, she married Tommy.  Three years later the young couple grieved the loss of their first child, infant Debra Ann Garrison.  But the back yard playground was soon enjoyed by their two daughters, Lisa and Denise, as well as all the other children in the neighborhood.

Betty, an excellent student, applied her work skills and easy-going temperament to two long careers.  She worked at Bell South as a telephone operator until they went to dial phones.  She then became a Morgan County 911 operator in 1988.  Betty answered the first 911 call placed in Morgan County.  On her days off, she and Tommy would drive all over the county mapping road names for a 911 directory.  She retired in 2005, but her 911 directory can still be found in the 911 archives.

Betty Garrison is survived by her daughters, Denise G. Peters and Lisa G. Bumgarner & Jimmy.  Her grandchildren are Sallie Lunzmann & Jim of Dublin and Amy Hollins & Ryan of 29 Palms, CA.  Her great grandchildren are Will Peters, Mary Helen and Caroline Lunzmann and Delilah, Jack and Lincoln Hollins.  Others include Ray Smith, a nephew that Betty and Tommy helped raise.  She also leaves her Pomeranian, Baby.

The family of Betty Garrison received friends on June 20 from 1-2:30pm at A.E. Carter Funeral Home.  A graveside service was held at the Madison City Cemetery at 3pm.  Rev. Jeff Hicks officiated.

In lieu of flower, memorials may be made to the Morgan County Humane Society.

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