Linda Garrison

With profound sadness and immense love, we announce the passing of Linda Garrison, a cherished daughter and sister, devoted wife and mother, compassionate pediatric intensive care nurse and volunteer. She passed away peacefully at home with her family on September 6, 2025, leaving a legacy of love that will forever be cherished by her family and community. She was 78.

Linda was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 8, 1947, to Doran and Geraldine Johnson. Linda's father Doran was a navigator for Pan American Airways. Linda spent her early years in Rio and Palo Alto, California before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1949, which she would always consider her home. She attended Will Rogers High School where she was a cheerleader, sang in the high school choir, and played violin in the band. She attended Oklahoma State University where she received her Associate Degree and met her future husband, Michael Garrison. They were married June 1, 1969, at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Tulsa.

With loving parents who were very dedicated volunteers and four brothers, Linda's interest in family, community service and medicine started early. For years she accompanied her mother, who was a dedicated volunteer at Children's Day Nursery in Tulsa. Also, she had polio as a child and often talked about her experience walking in the basement halls of Hillcrest Hospital seeing children in iron lungs lining both sides. Throughout her life she would seek out ways to help other people, especially children.

As a result of her husband's employment, the family moved fairly often beginning in Tulsa in 1969, then to Malibu, California in 1982, then Lexington, Kentucky in 1985, back to Malibu, California in 1990, then to their cattle ranch in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma in 2000, and finally to a horse property in Tulsa County in 2017. Linda was an active member of Faith Church, Kendall Whittier Baptist Church, and Woodland Acres Baptist Church. She also worked in various roles ranging from executive and legal secretary to real estate in Malibu to help with family finances plus cared for her family, which included two boys Brian and Michael Jr. As always, she made time for volunteer work such as being in charge of the American Cancer Society program in Lexington, Kentucky to recruit drivers to pick up cancer patients who had no transportation and take them to receive their treatment. Also, for over twelve years in three states Linda was highly involved in sponsoring, managing, and at times even coaching Kids Wrestling Teams including personally providing the transportation, room, board, and meals that were necessary to attend practices, tournaments, and events.

In 2004 Linda found her true calling. At age 57 she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oklahoma Baptist University. A short time after graduating she became a pediatric intensive care (PICU) nurse at Saint Francis Children's Hospital in Tulsa, which she would continue for over 12 years. Her numerous accomplishments included being named Nurse Mentor of the Year and being the only nurse in Oklahoma certified in pediatric palliative care. She described the challenging work as "her Calling." It would be impossible to determine how many lives Linda and the other PICU nurses at Saint Francis touched over the 12 years she was there.

Linda is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Mike; her children, Brian Scott Garrison and his wife Jessica; her grandchildren, Arissa and Elara, and Michael William Garrison Jr. and his wife Laura. She is also survived by her brothers Eric and Scott Johnson. She was preceded in death by her dad Doran, her mother Geraldine, and her brothers Terry and Bruce. A private gathering for close friends and family will be held at our home to honor Linda.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Glenpool-Bixby Funeral Service & Cremation Care Centers, 1329 East 151st Street, Glenpool, OK 74033. Family and friends may leave kind words of comfort, special memories and condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com