Sarah Garrison

            Was it a portent of her life that she was born on Friday, March 13, 1964?  Despite that superstitious omen, Sarah managed to live a meaningful life, touching many with love.  She was the “whoops” in Doyle and Joyce Dowse's married life, delivered by Dr.  Richard Satterfield at the old Sargent hospital.  Being ten and nine years younger than Lygia Jean and Michael Doyle, respectively, she was probably spoiled--but her sweet disposition and tender heart overrode that.

            She grew up in Halsey and had cousin Doris Haynes Matsukawa as a favorite playmate.  Doris was but three weeks older than Sarah and lived within walking distance of the Dowse home on the Middle Loup River.   Sarah helped her dad with chores and rode shotgun in his pickup.  School mornings Sarah went with mom to her post office job and in winter waited under the counter by the heater until school started.  Friends at Halsey Elementary and Sandhills High School became friends for life.   She was a star player on the SHS volleyball team and a majorette (? cheerleader?) for football games.  She coached and refereed for a little while.  Possessed of a beautiful singing voice, she was part of the school choir.  She graduated SHS in 1983 among a class of 24.  Shortly afterwards she moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex where she began working as secretary to the Van Roach Cattle Company in Fort Worth.  Her high school sweetheart found work in Texas which resulted in the birth of Derrick Lee Dowse on Dec. 13, 1984.  She became a salesperson, then a sales manager for car dealerships.  She enrolled in classes at Tarrant County Junior College.  Life fell to pieces when Derrick died on Jan. 3, 1997.  A few years later, she met a real Texas cowboy, Joseph Michael Garrison.  They recently celebrated their 20^th wedding anniversary and made their home in Texas until June of 2010, when they moved to Nebraska.  They resided in Holstein, Auburn, and Tecumseh.  Missing her family, who now lived in Callaway and Comstock, she and Joe found a house in Broken Bow and “moved back home” a year or so ago.

            Sarah grew up helping dad with mink and pigs but had an inordinate fondness for other critters, cats being the preference.  She loved going to estate sales and reselling “stuff” on E-bay. And anytime someone handed her a fishing pole and some bait, she was ready.   She was also a Facebook junkie and shared her love of old family photographs with her FB friends and also posted photos from nature.  One of her own photos placed in last March's art competition in Comstock.  She also loved crafting, and many were recipients of her creations. 

            Sarah was preceded in death by her son, Derrick; grandparents Phillip and Eleanor Dowse and Wilson and Edith Richards; and sister-in-law Vicki Whitten Dowse.  She is survived by her husband, Joe; mother Joyce Cary of Callaway; father and stepmother Doyle and Sue Dowse of Comstock; sister Lygia Dowse of West Palm Beach, FL; brother Mike and his wife Peggy Dowse of Callaway; nephew Anthony Dowse and his wife Connie of Surprise, AZ; niece Kristi Madron of Charlotte, NC; niece Mindi Madron of Rogersville, MO; grandnephews Tristan, Aiden, Xavier, Asher, and Ethan; grandnieces Alora and Evie;  her beloved felines Wilson, KK, and Minnie; and many, many friends from Texas, southeast Nebraska, and the Sandhills.

            Here's what Sarah would want you who survive her, to know.  She wants to see you in heaven.  Everyone doesn't have a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, but you can have a “Get Out of Hell Free” one.  It's simple.  Admit that you're a sinner.  (The consequence of sin is eternal damnation.)  Acknowledge that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin and rose from the dead to give you life everlasting.  Ask His forgiveness and accept Him into your heart as Lord and Saviour. Live for Him. (The consequence of doing this is eternal life in heaven.)   That's what Sarah did.  She's waiting for you there-- but it's your choice.

            Memorial services will be Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at 10:00 am at the Wescott Baptist Church in Comstock, NE (which is due north of Centennial Garden. Inurnment to follow at the Douglas Grove Cemetery and lunch back at the church.