Earl Garretson, 86, died Sunday, June 18, 2017, at his home. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 22 at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 23 at 10:30 a.m. at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Earl Leroy Garretson was born on December 29, 1930, in Haxtun, Colorado, to Wesley and Blanche (Lydin) Garretson. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1949 and attended Northeastern Junior College. On February 22, 1951, he married Eloise Lester in Atwood, Colorado.

Earl was a carpenter by trade. He worked on new home construction, remodels, and commercial and government projects including bridges, missile silos, power plants, local schools, and the original E.S. French building at NJC.

Earl was a member of Christ United Methodist Church and also the Brotherhood of Carpenters Union during his working years. He enjoyed bowling in league, playing and coaching slow pitch softball, and drinking coffee with friends at the J&L Café. One of his favorite activities was watching his children and grandchildren participate in sports, choir concerts, plays, and recitals. He was an avid sports fan. He loved the Broncos, Avalanche, Nuggets, and was thinking this may be the year his beloved Rockies would return to the World Series.

Earl was a lung cancer survivor. He lived the last 15 years with only one lung, yet persevered with grit and determination. Earl was a quiet, gentle man who loved his family and will be dearly missed.

He is survived by 3 daughters: Debbie Patterson of Greeley, Joanne (Kevin) Kimey of Boise, Idaho, and Sandy (Michael) Underwood of Sterling along with 2 sons: Michael (Juanelle) Garretson of Salina, Kansas and Jeff (Deb) Garretson of Lindsborg, Kansas, and 15 grandchildren: Adam (Tami) Patterson, Amanda and Alyssa Kimey, Emory Underwood, Shannon Garretson, Matt (Maddie) Garretson, Taylor (Nick) Hartzell, Camden and Brooks Garretson, and Olivia, Luke, Seth, Isaac, Joshua, and Peter Garretson, and 7 great-grandchildren: Delaney, Grayson, Sloane, Ledger, Graham, Logan, and Reese.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Eloise, a son, David, son-in-law, Rick Patterson, an infant daughter, Kathy, and his brother, Ronald Garretson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels c/o Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, PO Box 1046, Sterling, Colorado 80751.