James Garrity

James Robert Garrity, 94, of Dixie County, Florida, passed away May 6, 2024 with his loving wife of 73 years by his side. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Bell and a faithful believer since his early 20s. He was born July 6, 1929, in Gross Point, Michigan and spent much of his young adult life in Detroit. As a young man, he served in the Merchant Marine on the Great Lakes, alongside his father, Edward Garrity, and fell in love with boats, ships and being on the water. In 1950, he met and married the love of his life, Patricia Jo Johnson, in Detroit. They moved to Germany as part of his service in the United States Air Force, in which he served for 15 years. After retiring from the military and working in his home state of Michigan, James moved his family to South Florida, where he and Patricia lived for many years, raising their five children. He was very active in the Florida Trails Association there, and hiked and canoed many miles all over the U.S. and other parts of the world. James had an unrelenting love for the outdoors, travel and canoeing and spent countless hours on the rivers of Florida, especially the Suwannee. The couple volunteered for the U.S. Forest Service as wilderness guards in Alaska, Washington, and many other states.They moved to Dixie County in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew destroyed their home in Homestead, Florida. He is preceded in death by his parents and his son, Edward F. Garrity; He is survived by his wife, Patricia Jo Garrity; his daughters Kathleen Tuttle (Robert Tuttle), Laura Harding, Genevieve Garrity, and Mary Mason (Roger Mason); his 13 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren; his sister, Dorothy Fournier, three nieces and one nephew. The funeral service will be held at Rick Gooding Funeral Home in Cross City at 2 PM on Saturday, June 15, 2024 with Rev. Billy Philman officiating. Burial will follow at Jacksonville National Cemetery. Arrangements have been placed under the care of the Rick Gooding Funeral Home Cross City Chapel, with locations in Cross City 352-498-5400 and Chiefland 352-493-0050. Please sign the online guest book at rickgoodingfuneralhomes.com.

James Garrity

July 6, 1929 - May 6, 2024