Sidney Garrett

Sidney Ashton Garrett, 65, of Lawrence, Kansas, a respected community leader and business executive, died at home on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 5, 2011 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence. Private burial will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence. 

She was born on July 12, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Scott C. Ashton and Nancy Newlin Ashton, both of whom predeceased her. Her mother died just two months prior to her death. Mrs. Garrett cared for her mother in her later years with constant loving kindness.

Mrs. Garrett graduated from the University of Kansas in 1968, where she served as treasurer of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She also did graduate work at the University of Kansas and the University of Houston. She remained an active supporter of KU, KU sports and Pi Beta Phi, including membership in the University’s National Alumni Board of Directors and its Chancellor’s Club.

She was President and Chief Executive Officer of Brown Cargo Van, Inc., a prominent manufacturing entity in Lawrence, for two decades until her retirement in 2007. During her tenure, the company developed innovative specialty and custom vehicles. She was also a Certified Public Accountant. In 2005, she was honored by Baker University as Business Person of the Year.

Mrs. Garrett was privileged to contribute her unending energy and keen intellect to better the community. She served as Vice Chair and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Lawrence Memorial Hospital and as a member of the Finance Committee of its Endowment Association; Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Land Trust; a member of the Board of Directors of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Lawrence Community Health Plan, Douglas County Development, Inc., Lawrence Arts Center, Commerce Bank of Lawrence; and as President and Treasurer of the Lawrence Country Club. After her retirement she enjoyed living part of the year in Wickenburg, Arizona, where she had attended high school.  In Wickenburg, she served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Los Caballeros Golf Club.

Her professional memberships included the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, National Truck Equipment Association, National Association of Manufacturers, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence Rotary Club.
Mrs. Garrett was a gifted athlete throughout her life, excelling in all manner of sports from rodeo horseback riding to her greatest love, golf.  She won countless amateur golf tournaments.  She repeated as Lawrence Country Club Ladies’ Champion and was the Kansas Women’s Golf Association’s State Senior Champion in 2004 and 2010. Most recently she was the Los Caballeros Club Champion and had been looking forward to defending her 2010 Kansas Women’s Golf Association “Tee for Two” title. She shot her lowest lifetime score, a 74, just three months before her death. 

Survivors include a sister, Judith Ashton, Boston, Massachusetts, two brothers and their spouses, Donald B. and Annie Ashton, Austin, Texas and Stewart H. and Genevieve A. Ashton, Paris, France, her nephew, Ian Scott and his spouse Melissa Ashton, Brooklyn, New York, her nephew, Jean Ashton, and three nieces, Elisabeth, Zoe, and Sophie Ashton.

The family suggests contributions to the University of Kansas Endowment Association, the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association, the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona, or to a charity of choice.
 

12 Condolences

  1. Judy Billings on August 3, 2011 at 10:10 am

    With sympathy for your loss of a very special woman. My thoughts are with your family.



  2. Brad W. House on August 3, 2011 at 10:44 am

    What a privilege it was to work for her. She was one of the best bosses I have ever had in my 40 year working career. She will be missed.



  3. John and Pat Marzolf on August 3, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    So very, very sorry to hear about Sidney. I had the pleasure of playing golf with her on ladies day, at Los Cab, when she shot her best ever score. She was amazing and will be missed in Wickenburg very much. Our condolences to all her family and friends.
    John and Pat



  4. Nancy Volkmann on August 3, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    I will never forget meeting Sid at Lawrence CC when I was a “new player” at this golf game. She was so nice to me and I was in awe of her. As time went on, it was so fun to meet up with her at various golf outings. Jane and I had Sid here in Manhattan at our member/guest golf tournament. It was a very fun time and I think we even won something. Sid will be missed by many golfers around the state. She had many friends and a great sense of humor. My sympathy to her family. Nancy Volkmann



  5. Sandra Gramling on August 4, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Logistics will not allow me to be physically at Sidney’s service; my heart will be there. The wonderful memories I have of Sidney will remain. They range from pranks at the Pi Phi house to heart-to-heart talks to swimming with the whales. My sympathy goes out to all who are hurting from the void that Sidney has left in our hearts.

    Rest peacefully, dear Sid.



  6. Larry Norris on August 4, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    Have a wonderful eternal life with your mother and father. God bless and rest in peace



  7. Judy Bauer on August 4, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    Though I will be unable to attend Sidney’s service tomorrow, I will be holding all of you close as you celebrate her amazing life. She possessed an excellent wit, countless talents and gave of herself unselfishly. It was my good fortune to have know her.
    With deepest sympathy,
    Judy Underwood Bauer



  8. Suzi Cammon Lauer on August 4, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    My employment makes the service on Friday impossible, but Sidney will be missed so very, very much! Her perception, motivation and humor made our visits to our ’trainer’ bearable and kept us coming back for more – rest in peace dear one.



  9. Sheila Eades on August 9, 2011 at 10:41 am

    To all the family and friends of Sidney,
    Mike and I are so sorry to hear of her passing. She was our next door neighbor and had rapidly become one of “THE GANG” who met at the Bar 7 every Tuesday for dinner and then crossed the road to the movie theatre, if it wasn’t showing some Sci-Fi thing. She and I played many rounds of golf together, and were partners in a couple of tournaments. I really enjoyed playing with her, and will miss her sense of humor.
    When we said goodbye for the summer, we fully expected to take up together again in the Fall. How sad that this is not meant to be, and how precarious is life!
    We are sorry she is gone, but not forgotten, and very much missed.
    Sheila Eades.



  10. Laurie Ward on August 9, 2011 at 11:42 am

    I send my sincere sympathies over Sidney’s passing. I recall with appreciation Sidney’s service as treasurer of the Kansas Land Trust board of directors, during my tenure as KLT ex. director. Sidney oversaw the production of monthly financial reports that were correct to the penny! I’ll remember with a smile Sidney driving her gold convertible!



  11. Karliln & Myrna Wyse on August 14, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    We will miss seeing Sidney in Wickenburg. We were high school class mates. Karlin enjoyed playing golf with
    Sidney. She will be deeply missed by her friends. God’s blessing be with you all.



  12. B.W.Wans on March 9, 2024 at 3:27 pm

    Very few employers earned my respect throughout my welding & fabrication career. Ms Garrett was one of them. She always treated me with honesty and fairness, even if she was a little crusty at times. She always had a smile for me, and I had one for her. You will be missed, Boss Lady.



Leave a Condolence