Garrel Alvin Packard, 88, died on Sunday, May 29, 2022 at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas. He was born August 31, 1933 in Macksville, Kansas to Iona Faye (Pruett) and Alvin William Packard. He married Lois Almeda Holmes on August 24, 1952 at the home of her parents in Plains, Kansas. They enjoyed nearly 70 years of married life together.
Garrel moved to Plains, Kansas in the 6th grade. He always sat in the back of the classroom and kept his classmates laughing all the time. He sold, serviced and repaired irrigation engines as his profession. He was a very skilled mechanic, there wasn’t an engine he couldn’t figure out how to fix.
Early in his life he became a Christian and was baptized into Christ. He maintained his faith and steadfast belief in Christ throughout his life. He was a member of the Plains Christian Church. He enjoyed listening to KHYM Christian radio and you would always find that station playing when he was working at the shop.
Garrel was one of a kind. He was always ready with a smile, usually accompanied by a joke or or two when meeting strangers and friends alike.
In his later years and after retirement he loved spending more time with his family. Most especially he enjoyed those years with his grandchildren. He loved playing with them, teaching them life lessons, explaining mechanics and woodworking, talking about cars or just being around them. His grandchildren were the light of his life. He gained much satisfaction from being a big part of their life and seeing them become responsible young adults. He was very proud of all of his children, grandchildren and their achievements.
Garrel is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Lois Packard of the home; children, Teresa Wood and husband John of Overton, TX, Debra Klein and husband Dennis of Glendale, AZ, and Rob Packard and wife Mary of Plains, KS; nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Iona Packard; a son, Gary Kent Packard; and infant daughter, Kristi Ann Packard; and a sister, Terry Cole.
Graveside service will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022 at the Plains Cemetery with Barry Woods officiating.
Services are under the direction of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary