Thomas Benton Garrison passed away on February 26, 2018 just one month short of his 92 birthday. Tom was born in Baker, Oregon on March 23, 1926 and spent much of his childhood and youth with his grandfather in Oakland, Oregon. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1944 and then served in the 115 ^th Medical Battalion of the U.S. Army's 40 ^th Infantry Division during World War II where he received two service medals for operations in the South Pacific Theater and Korea.

When he returned he married Peggy Payne of Union, OR and pursued a college education, graduating from Pomona College (Pomona, California) with Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1950. He remained in California pursuing his graduate education in philosophy earning a Master of Arts degree from Claremont Graduate College (now University) in 1951 and teaching at local colleges. He always nurtured his lifelong interest in German philosophy by reading and translating various works of the German philosopher Georg Hegel.

He returned to Oregon and entered law school in 1954 at the University of Oregon earning his jurisprudence degree and was admitted into the Oregon State Bar in 1957. He practiced law in Roseburg for 30 years, retiring from active practice in 1987. In 2007, Oregon State Bar Association honored him as a 5O-year member.

Tom, demonstrating a deep commitment to Roseburg civic life, served on the area's Chamber of Commerce where he was elected President in 1961. He then made a successful run for mayor in 1962 where he served two terms until December 1966 focusing on downtown business development and acquiring land for public parks. In 1967, the Chamber of Commerce honored Tom as a First Citizen, the highest recognition for individuals with long-standing and exceptional volunteerism to the Roseburg community.

Tom was an avid tennis player, informally coaching members of the local school and summer tennis teams and playing competitively well into his 70s on the United States Tennis Association Senior circuit. He also enjoyed studying American History, concentrating his efforts especially on early 19 ^th century American religious history.

He is survived by a son, three daughters and their spouses: Randy and Mickey Garrison (Roseburg, OR), Theresa and David Richardson (Richland, WA), Gwen Garrison and Linda Hodson (Silver Spring, MD), and Annette Garrison (Portland, OR). There are four grandsons and spouses, and one great-grand-daughter. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Garrison (La Grande, OR) and preceded in death by his brothers William (1987) and Barton (2015).

The family has planned a ceremony (date pending) at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.