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Thomas Robert 'Tom' Garrison

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Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at First Presbyterian Church, Harrison, with private burial at Maplewood Cemetery; Visitation: 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at the church, with arrangements by Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.

Thomas Robert “Tom” Garrison, age 57, passed away peacefully in his home Sunday, Feb. 11 (2018).

Tom was born Feb. 26, 1960, in Harrison, the son of Sheridan and Jo Ann (Sugg) Garrison. He was the third oldest of four boys. Tom was preceded in death by his brothers, Daniel A. Garrison and David Garrison; his parents; and his cousin, Ben Frank Garrison.

Tom graduated from Harrison High School, and went on to attend the University of Arkansas where he obtained an accounting degree. He maintained a strong work ethic throughout school which carried with him as he began his first job at Garrison Motor Freight. He worked with his father, Sheridan, in many capacities. Tom helped his father grow the business into a small Harrison company called Arkansas Freightways, and into a large multi-state company. Arkansas Freightways continued to grow which led to it becoming a publicly traded company and later changed its name to American Freightways. Eventually, Tom became president of the company and later assisted his father with the sale of American Freightways to FedEx in 2002. Tom continued as an officer of FedEx Freight East in Harrison. After his career in trucking, Tom moved to Fayetteville to be closer to his daughter, son-in-law, and his four grandchildren. In Fayetteville, he acquired a financial advisory firm, growing Garrison Financial Advisors into a large asset management firm. Additionally, Tom was active in real estate in the northwest Arkansas region and helped start Pinnacle Bancshares.

Tom had a soft heart and a hearty laugh. He inherited some of his father’s history as a practical joker with a witty sense of humor. He was an avid boy scout and eagle scout growing up. He also loved his farm, raising cattle and chickens, hiking and floating and being outdoors, watching Andy Griffin marathons, and of course enjoying his four grandchildren whom he loved and cared for deeply. He never met a stranger, was a kind and gentle soul, and had a fierce love for his Razorbacks. He also loved to attend Sunday morning worship services with his family at Fellowship Fayetteville.

Tom had a generous heart and spirit, working with numerous charitable organizations including the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, the Arkansas Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, and many other organizations in his hometown of Harrison. Through his service on several charitable boards and through his family foundation, Tom touched numerous lives in areas such as education opportunities through scholarships, feeding the hungry, giving shelter to families in difficult situations and generally caring for others. Tom loved an underdog. He made friends everywhere he went, and was loved deeply by his family.

Tom is survived by his daughter, Sarah Garrison Bradley and her husband Darrick, of Fayetteville; four grandchildren, Brooklyn Anne Bradley, Lauren Reese Bradley, Rush Thomas Bradley and Bennett Todd Bradley; his brother, William A. Garrison, of Oregon City, Oregon; his niece, Lisa R. Garrison, of Colleyville, Texas; his nephew, David Garrison, of Fayetteville; Natalie Garrison of Springdale; and two rambunctious dogs, Amira and Maddie, and two pot bellied pigs, Wilbur and Arnold.

Funeral service is 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at the First Presbyterian Church in Harrison, Reverend D. C. Adams officiating. Visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m., prior to the service. Private burial is in Maplewood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 220 Arbor Drive, Harrison, AR 72601; Big Dog Rescue Project, 605 West Dickson Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701; Arkansas Sheriff's Youth Ranches, P.O. Box 3964, Batesville, AR 72503; or the Sheridan Garrison Foundation, 605 West Dickson Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

Visit the online guestbook at rollerfuneralhomes.com/harrison .



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