Edwin Truman ‘Sonny’ Garnett

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Edwin Truman “Sonny” Garnett, 92, of Vernon, TX, wouldn’t say he died peacefully on
Sept. 8, 2026, he would laugh while singing the old cowboy song that he gained his “Rusty
ole halo, skinny white cloud, second-hand wings full of patches. Rusty ole halo, skinny
white cloud, robe so wooly that it scratches.” Anyone who knew him well can imagine it!
Visitation was from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at the Sullivan Funeral
Home Chapel in Vernon.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at First Presbyterian
Church in Vernon.
Burial was in the west side of the Rose Garden in Wilbarger County Memorial Park on
Highway 70 near Lockett under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home.
Ed was born May 5, 1934 in Lynn County, Texas to Ed and Alma Webb Garnett. He
attended school in O’Donnell, then graduated from Brown¿ eld High School. Family and
friends in New Mexico called him “Sonny,” and Texas friends knew him as “Ed”. He answered to both names, but
his old friend Ken Cook gru൷ y and exclusively called him “Garnett!”
Ed earned a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science from Texas Tech University, where he was a member of Block
and Bridle, and the Texas Tech Rodeo Team. Before leaving Tech, he married his sweetheart Flo Leuenberger. They
moved to Portales, NM, where Sonny began his career in the New Mexico Agricultural Extension Service.
While in Portales, they had two daughters, Lesli and Libbi. Some time later, Ed and his family returned to the
Lubbock area, where they farmed before Ed went back to school in Las Cruces. Ed earned a Masters Degree in
Agriculture Economics from New Mexico State University, and his water research is still referenced to this day.
When Ed left graduate school, he became an agricultural economist for the Extension o൶ ce in Amarillo. Always
an overachiever, he soon pivoted into the District 4-H Specialist position for both Districts 1 and 2, headquartered
in Amarillo and Lubbock. This meant covering 42 counties in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains. He proudly
laughed that one summer in the early 70’s, he spent only three nights at home in his own bed. Many knew Ed for
spending countless hours at District Leadership Labs, 4-H Electric Camp, Texas 4-H Roundup, at sales buying show
lambs, and many other 4-H activities. He loved 4-H club lamb projects: buying, blocking, breeding, and judging
them. He believed that if Jesus called us His lambs, these gentle animals must be as close to heaven as we can get
here on earth.
Ed left Amarillo in 1974 for a position as the District 3 Extension Director in Lockett, Texas, near Vernon.
There, he supervised County Extension Agents for agriculture, and at one point also for home economics. During
those years, he became a member of the Board of Regents at Vernon College. He strongly supported education and
claimed that anybody could learn if somebody had the patience to teach them. He retired from the Extension Service,
but he didn’t quit working, of course!
He and Flo had already begun building Garnett Auction, a service for estate sales and antique auctions. Having
spent most of his childhood in the livestock sale barns with his dad, Ed had mastered the auctioneer’s chant from
an early age, but now licensed, made it his second career. Garnett Auction was in continuous operation until Flo’s
unfortunate cancer diagnosis brought new priorities and a di൵ erent direction. In rapid succession, Ed sold the auction
business, secured a real estate license and, at the age of 75, became Mayor of Vernon. Local Chinese businessmen
invited Mayor Ed and First Lady Flo to travel to China as their guests. In Beijing, the businessmen asked Ed to
speak at an event. He agreed, donning his trademark cowboy hat to do so. This cemented Ed’s image as a true Texan
no matter where his journey would take him.
In real estate, Ed found his greatest passion yet, but especially in farms and ranches. He loved matching buyers
and sellers, and he helped clients feel con¿ dent in acquiring property. Many, many of his former clients have testi¿ ed
that if not for Ed, they wouldn’t be in the home or business they’re in now.
Lending a hand to others was simply a way of life. Ed Garnett was known by all as a go-getter. Work was the
truest friend he ever had, and he never minded getting up early or working long hours. A natural-born storyteller, his
laconic sense of humor lifted the spirits of everyone around him. With very few, very well-chosen words, he could
bring a storm of laughter to any occasion. He loved inspiring others, encouraging others, and motivating others. He
was extremely generous—giving his time and resources freely to help others pursue their own dreams and projects.
He o൵ ered free auction services to folks for a myriad of reasons, such as building a community gathering place,
securing medical treatment for a child in need, or raising money for various causes.
Recently, a woman was visiting a di൵ erent patient in the nursing home, and she sat down at Ed’s table in the
dining room to speak with him. She began weeping with gratitude, reminding him that when her house burned, Ed
and Flo delivered furniture and a crew to help them. She recalled that in addition to the household items, Ed had
remembered her buying a collectible doll in one of this auctions that was like one she had as a child. After the ¿ re,
Ed had contacted every doll dealer he knew until he found a dealer with one to replace it. She said she needed the
furniture, but cherished the surprise gift of that old doll.
These are the kinds of stories that are told over and over,
These are the legacies that we will remember.
“Git ‘er DONE” was a familiar motto, and we heard it ALL the time.
“Don’t tell me your problem, tell me your plan.”
“Get your chin o൵ your chest and look the world in the eye!”
He lived by these, and expected everyone else to.
Ed attended the Central Christian Church where he was a member, elder, and teacher. He served on the church
board for years as a part of almost every committee. He was a worship leader, and he loved singing. He always
quipped that the Bible didn’t tell us to become opera singers; it tells us to “make a joyful noise,” and that is precisely
what he did! After Flo’s death, he joined the Eagle Flats Brats dulcimer and old-time music group, playing a “pickin’
stick” that was a gift from his Extension friends Elaine Houston and Carolyn Gilbert. Playing music and singing old
songs and hymns was fun and relaxing, and he knew the words and tune to every old cowboy song ever written!
Ed is survived by his daughters Lesli and Libbi; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and his two
younger brothers.
He was preceded in death by his sweet wife with her jingle-bell voice Flora Jane “Flo” Leuenberger Garnett;
infant grandson Elliot Bray; his parents Ed and Alma Garnett; and his seven sisters.
Memorials for Wilbarger County 4-H, the Texas 4-H Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Vernon, or the Flo Garnett
Memorial Scholarship Fund may be sent c/o Sullivan Funeral Home, PO Box 2044, Vernon, TX 76385.
If he were with us today, Ed would tell us to help the next person you know that needs it, and don’t wait for them
to ask. Then, don’t wait for them to thank you, because an act of service contains its own reward.
The 4-H motto is “To Make the Best Better,” and Sonny’s New Mexico 4-H’ers would say it like this:
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest, ’til the good is better, and the better is best.”
Thanks for the memories