Martha Inez Garrett

On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, Martha Garrett left this world to be with her Lord and Savior. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be dearly missed. Martha was born on July 2, 1936, in Chicago, IL to Jim and Lucille Powers. The family moved to Concord, CA in 1946 while her father was serving as a Major in the Army. Martha attended grade school and then Mt. Diablo High School, graduating in 1954. It was during her freshman year that she became lifelong best friends with Darlene (Kennerley) Tennell after she offered to share her locker with Darlene. They shared many adventures, tribulations, joy, and most of all lots of laughter. Darlene was and is forever her soul sister. Martha worked most of her life starting with her first job right after High School from 1954-1959 for C.J. Riker Insurance Agency. She worked for a brief time with her best friend Darlene at Lehmer's Car dealership in the office. However, most of her career was spent working at the Concord Naval Weapons Station as a clerk-stenographer specialist in the Industrial Management Dept for the Department of Navy. Martha was a highly valued employee with a strong work ethic. She received several awards for outstanding service and quality of work. In 1964, Martha met Tom Garrett, through mutual friends, who also worked at the Concord Naval Weapons Station as a locomotive engineer. They dated briefly and married six months later in Reno, NV. They were married for 39 years until Tom's passing in 2004. Tom brought out the best in Martha. He was always getting her to try things she had never done before like camping, boating, playing golf or other games. Martha loved to bowl, golf, read books, and especially enjoyed watching football and baseball. Martha was a dog lover from an early age. She had dogs by her side throughout her life and several cats too. Martha was a woman of strong faith and a devoted Catholic. She was a loving, good-natured, giving person with a good sense of humor. Martha was a caregiver always offering her time and skills to assist others. She was a long-standing member of the Women's Guild at her perishes of St Agnes in Concord, CA and Holy Family Church in Kingsburg, CA. Martha's greatest joy was her family. She would host the family gatherings, holiday meals, and summer barbeques. She was the taxi extraordinaire taking her daughter, Kathleen, to sports practices, games, roller skating practices, and competitions, along with the usual shuttling of kids around. Martha and Tom (also known fondly as "Poppi") would pick up their grandchildren after school and take care of them for the afternoon. The grandchildren would often spend weekends going various places with them, or just hang out at Poppi and Grandma's house where there was always something special waiting for them. She was blessed to see her children and grandchildren grow up, be successful, and gratefully also witnessed her great-grandchildren start on their own journeys. Martha was predeceased by her parents Jim and Lucille Powers, and her husband Elmer "Tom" Garrett. She is survived by her daughter Kathleen Wilmes, and two stepsons, Tom Garrett Jr., and Calvin Garrett. Her grandchildren and their families include Nathaniel Smith with his wife April Smith, Jason Smith with his wife Ellen Reyerson, Charles Smith, Amy (Smith) Tjchirgi and her husband Jake Tjchirgi, Marissa Garrett, Ethan Garrett, Heather Taylor, Shanel Taylor, Kayla Gutierrez with her husband Roman Gutierrez, and Hailey Paz with her husband Angel Paz. Her great-grandchildren include Marcus and Lucas Smith, Macy and Griffin Smith, Alison and Tyler Tjchirgi, Destiny Garrett, Nathan Vincent, Sylvan and Arden Gutierrez, and Warren Paz. Memorial service will be held at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel on February 25, 2023, in Visalia, CA. Visitation with the family will start at 1:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. The service will be live webcasted for those who cannot attend in person. Final resting place will be Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Lafayette, CA. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting memorial donations to Valley Oak SPCA, 9405 West Goshen Ave, Visalia, CA 93291, Tax ID: 94-2770238. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Martha Inez Garrett

July 2, 1936 - December 21, 2022