of Conway, AR

June 4, 1947 - November 13, 2024

Bill Garrett, 77, of Conway, Arkansas passed away on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from complications of COVID and pneumonia.

Bill was born on June 4, 1947 to Emma Jean Johnston Garrett and Wellington Hughes Garrett. He attended first grade in a one room schoolhouse in Holland, Arkansas. He attended second grade and onward in Greenbrier, graduating in 1965. Following graduation, he served in the United States Air Force as military police. He trained in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and served in Vietnam, leaving just days before the 1967 Tet Offensive, where his base was overrun and experienced hand to hand combat.

After returning home, he entered UCA for Pre-Pharmacy studies and graduated from the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in 1973. While in pharmacy school, he began working for Dewayne Goode at American Drugs where he continued employment when he graduated. During the subsequent years, Bill worked at, managed or owned several pharmacies-Sentry Drugstore, Rod's Pharmacy, Corner Drug Store and Medicine Shoppe. But his heart was always more in helping people than in business.

That love for people led him to become a bi-vocational pastor in 1981 at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church for six years. How he loved those people and those years of his life. And they loved him-even when he went to sleep driving home from work, listening to his own sermon on tape and scraped his car down Mr. Brewer's barbed wire fence. Luckily the fence was repaired, but his reputation was not.

Later he had the privilege of pastoring Brumley Baptist Church, where he had the honor of serving more wonderful people, including his mother whom he loved dearly.

When life became too hectic, he decided his ministry would just be in the pharmacy. When time allowed, which was often back then, he would sit down in the waiting area and just encourage people coming in for medicine. Many widows came in to get a hug and a kiss on the cheek with their prescriptions. He retired in 2017 when heart problems and kidney failure leading to dialysis brought on by exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam affected his health so badly.

In his later years, he was an active member of the Life 10 small group in this church. He loved discussing the Word with his many friends there. Those friendships brought him great joy as they served the Lord together.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Jean Garrett and brother, David Garrett. He is survived by his sister, Gloria Stripling and son, Jeffrey Irby. He is also survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Lynn Lay Garrett of Marshall, Arkansas; their children and grandchildren: Kenny and April (Garrett) Kinley, Lauren, Ashlyn and Luke; John and Jess (Clark) Garrett; John and Rachel (Garrett) Martinez, Hayden, Emma, Ian, Liam and Blaine. Only his love for the Lord superseded his love for his family.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 16th at First Baptist Church in Conway, Arkansas at 2:00 pm with Dr. Dale Wicker and Dr. Larry Pillow officiating. A private family burial will be held Tuesday at North Little Rock Veterans Cemetery.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
650 Central Landing Blvd.
Conway, AR  72032
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com