Funeral Mass for Gene Garrity, 74, of Jefferson will be 10:00 am Thursday, March 26, 2009 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson.  Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Jamaica, Iowa.  Visitation will be after 11:00 am Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm with a Vigil Service to follow at 7:30 pm.  In Lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial go to Iowa Hospice.

Eugene Garrity was born January 3, 1935 in Jefferson, Iowa to Delos and Madeline (Thornburgh) Garrity. Eugene grew up in Cooper, IA and played baseball for the Cooper High School Cardinals and also managed the boys basketball team. He graduated in 1952.

Eugene married Beverly Peterson on November 21, 1953 at St. Brigid’s Church in Grand Junction, IA. In the years following, the couple became the proud parents of Denise Garrity and Linda Garrity Eighmy. Eugene and Beverly lived in and around Cooper for most of their married life. As a lifetime mechanic, Eugene worked along side his father, Delos, as a partner and later owner of Garrity’s Garage in Cooper. Eugene also spent several summers working for Ferguson-Diehl Construction Company. Additionally, he was a substitute bus driver for the Cooper School District.

After retirement, Eugene and Beverly enjoyed life on an acreage in Greenbrier Township in Greene County, and later resided in Jefferson. The couple enjoyed 55 wonderful years of marriage.

Eugene enjoyed watching and participating in dirt track racing. He won the season track championship at Jefferson Speedway in 1975, racing car number 57. He and Bev also spent many enjoyable summers camping with family and friends.

Eugene Garrity passed away March 22, 2009 in Jefferson, Iowa at the age of 74 years. He is survived by his wife Beverly, and two daughters, Denise Garrity (Pat Summerson), and Linda Eighmy (Rod Eighmy), all of Jefferson, IA; five grandchildren: Jeremy Garrity (Kristen) of Batavia, IL; Jarrod Rumley (Jennie Wilson) of Jefferson, IA; Daniel Garrity (Alicia) of Waukee, IA; Amanda Bills of Des Moines, IA; and Tracy Eighmy of Fontanelle, IA; eight great-grandchildren: Fiona, Aidan, Riley and Ashlyn Garrity, all of Batavia, IL; Michael and Jacob Rumley, both of Jefferson, IA; and Taylor Eighmy and Brady Hilpipre, both of Fontanelle, IA. Eugene is also survived by his sister Eileen (Earle) Chapman of Albuquerque, NM; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Memorials may be made to Iowa Hospice, 118 W. Main Street, Panora, IA 50216. Services were arranged by Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home, Jefferson.