Ina Lee Garrison, age 89, passed away on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Park Villa Nursing Home in Clyde, Kansas.
From the start, Ina did things in a memorable way, born during a record-breaking heat wave on August 23, 1936, to Leon "Lefty" and Evelina (Forgue) Courville in Concordia, Kansas. She was also welcomed by her two older brothers, Moe and Donnie. As a child, Ina enjoyed playing "Kick the Can" with Dorothy and the rest of the neighborhood children. She loved having her hair washed at the Palace Barbershop where Lefty worked, and shopping at Bon Marche.
Ina graduated from Concordia Catholic High School and then worked as a service representative for Southwestern Bell. She had a spirit of adventure, driving to New York City with her friend Leatha May and to Atlantic City to see the Miss America pageant. According to local sources, she was hand-picked to be a chaperone for a class’s Senior Sneak to Colorado. She also enjoyed spending time at the local sand pit, boating and water skiing, where she met her future husband.
Ina married Dale Garrison on June 24, 1961, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Concordia. Together, they raised four children in Concordia, continued traveling occasionally, and provided countless memories for their children and grandchildren during time spent at Lovewell Lake. Possibly because of those four children, Ina got out of the house to pursue a variety of interests such as bowling, singing in the church choir, and forming life-long friendships with her “sisters” of Phi Beta Epsilon sorority. She and Dale also hosted great parties and loved playing cards or a night out at the Elks Club with Jack and Sue, Willie and Don, Opal and numerous other friends.
Once the children were grown, Ina spent time volunteering to work at local elections, gave blood, serving on the Parish Council and Hospital Auxiliary committees, and countless other causes. She was always generous about offering her time, resources and opinions to things that mattered to her. She also returned to the workforce, as an insurance billing clerk for Pawnee Mental Health and then as a clerk at the Catholic Thrift Shop. She kept a lovely home and yard and was quite particular about details.
In 2011, Dale and Ina moved to Clyde, KS, where Ina became a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Ina was preceded in death by her husband Dale, her parents, Lefty and Evelina, brother, Elmo Courville, and 2 infant brothers, Ansel and Joseph.
She is survived by four children, Tara Garrison, Noel Garrison, David (Stephanie) Garrison, and Amy Hensler (Ben), along with her seven grandchildren, Brock (Darci) Boling, Blake Boling, Brennan Boling, Grayson and McKenzie Hensler, Devin (John) Michaletti, and Colby Garrison. She is also survived by four great-grandsons, Graham, Nash and Knox Boling, Jack Michaletti, her brother, Don (Johnita) Courville, and sister-in-law, Roberta Courville, and several nieces and nephews. Ina will be remembered by her family for her committment to providing them with magical Christmas celebrations, fun Birthday parties and an ever-present concern for their happiness and enjoyment of life. She gave so much, from back scratches to baking pumpkin bread, to paying for trips. All with love.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 1-8 p.m., with the family receiving friends after the Rosary Service. A Rosary Service will be held at 6:00 p.m., Thursday evening at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, in Concordia, Kansas, led by Fr. Joseph Kieffer.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 17, 2025, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, in Concordia, with Fr. Barry Brinkman officiating. The burial will follow in the St. Concordia Cemetery, Concordia.
For online Condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.