Glynnis June Webster was born February 25, 1943 at Pryor, OK to Glynn and Daphne Webster, their first child. The name Glynnis is a feminine version of her father’s name, and was selected after her parents had seen a movie starring Glynis Johns. She was known as Glynnis throughout her primary and secondary school years, but switched to June when she left home to go to work for the FBI in Washington, DC.
Glynnis had a very mobile upbringing, due to her father’s frequent transfers as manager of Long Bell Lumber Yards in Oklahoma and nearby. She started school in Edmond, OK, then moved to Liberal, KS, and Pryor, OK, before settling into Norman, OK for the end of elementary school and almost all of junior high. She has claimed McAlester, OK, as her hometown as she spent almost all her high school years there. She lamented having to leave McAlester for the last three months of high school, and received her high school diploma from Ardmore, OK High School, but has always attended the class reunions of McAlester Class of 1961.
During her employment as a stenographer and secretary with the FBI in Washington she was able to enjoy the sightseeing and historical sites as well as find time for participating in a women’s softball league and also attending frequent dances at various military installations in the Washington area.
June accepted an FBI transfer to the Oklahoma City Field Office, where she met fellow support employee Dwight G Garretson. They were married on January 26, 1963 at Norman, OK and after Dwight completed his studies at University of Central Oklahoma (then known as Central State College), they returned to Washington in order for Dwight to complete his FBI New Agents Training.
June accompanied Dwight of his varied assignments. She jokingly often remarked that her father had moved her all over Oklahoma as she grew up, and then her husband moved her all over the western hemisphere. Their homes included Detroit, Baltimore and Hyattsville, MD, West Palm Beach, FL, Ponce, PR, San Diego, and then back to Oklahoma City. The traveling was not over as they then returned to Washington, followed by assignments in Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogota, Colombia before returning to Washington. While living abroad she participated actively in civic affairs, serving in various capacities, including president, of the U.S. Government Club, the Embassy spouses’ association.
During those years, June also gave birth to three sons and one daughter, and successfully saw them grow to adulthood, complete university studies, and begin families of their own.
After Dwight’s retirement from government service, June accompanied him in his corporate security employment, back to Bogota for 3 ½ years, then to Bakersfield, CA, and Dallas, TX. At that point they moved, not because of employment, but to be nearer their children and their families, to Fredericksburg, VA. After 12 years in Virginia, the children were no longer nearby, and June and Dwight needed to be near family, so they relocated to McKinney, TX.
June valiantly struggled with illness issues for several years, finally succumbing and going to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on May 21, 2017, at McKinney.
June is survived by her husband of more than 54 years, and by her children and grandchildren: Steve and Amy Garretson and their daughter Grace of Tarpon Springs, FL, Joshua Garretson of Indianapolis, and Aaron Garretson of Fort Campbell, KY. Dan and Sherri Garretson and their children Jon & Leah of McKinney, TX, Alexis and spouse Jon Matt of Fairfax, VA, and Sam Garretson of Phoenix, AZ. Daphne and Andrew Harvey and their daughters Genevieve and Lillian of Grove City, PA. Robert “Merv” Garretson and Janet Masamitsu and their children Dylan and Jack of New York, NY. Also survived by two sisters, Ellen Keen of Norman, OK, and Jacquelynn Webster Anderson of San Diego. She was preceded in death by her parents, Glynn and Daphine Webster.
A graveside memorial service will be held at Alfalfa Cemetery, Alfalfa, OK at a later date.