Garrett Merriell Puckett, age 88, of O'Fallon, Ill., born Oct. 31, 1921, passed away Sunday afternoon, September 19, 2010 at Rosewood Care Center, Swansea, Ill.

Mr. Puckett was born in Harco, Ill. to Leonard Elbert and Myrtle Belle (nee Milligan) Puckett. He enlisted in the Navy and saw submarine service during most of WWII, serving on the USS Bonefish. Following the war, he was an electrician for Peabody Coal Company and Granite City Steel, eventually retiring from Granite City Steel in 1986. He was a past commander of the Du Quoin American Legion, attended O'Fallon United Church of Christ, and was a Cardinals baseball fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Joyce Gleason, Carl Puckett, Ernest Puckett, Harry Puckett, Charles Kimble, Vera Lawson, Leonard "Junior" Puckett, Wayne Gogue, and Opal Byrnes.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria Mae, nee Hall, Puckett whom he married January 1, 1946; children Gary (Barbara) Puckett of O'Fallon, Ill., Alan (Sandy) Puckett of Helena, Mont., Robert "Bob" Puckett of Fair Grove, Mo., Carol "Jeanny" (Charles "Pat") Fahey of Millstadt, Ill., Steven Puckett of Fair Grove, Mo.; grandchildren Andrew (Becca) Puckett of Anchorage, Alaska, Jeffrey (Andrea) Puckett of Trenton, Ill., Timothy Puckett of Helena, Mont., David Puckett of Norman, Okla., Christine (Chad) Colgate of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Jennifer (Jason) Jones of Waterloo, Ill.; great-grandchildren Maia and John Puckett, Emily, Grace and Henry Colgate, and Madison and Mason Jones.

"Crossing the Bar"

Sunset And Evening Star
And One Clear Call for Me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep Too full for sound and foam.

When that which drew from out the boundless deep turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place the flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

-Tennyson

Memorial donations may be made to Heartland Hospice, towards breast cancer research, or to the donor's choice.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 21, 2010 and after 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon.

Funeral: 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at the funeral home with Rev. Walter Gerth officiating. Burial will follow in O'Fallon City Cemetery. The US Navy, in conjunction with O'Fallon VFW Post 805, will render full military honors.