Helen S. Garrett

LAGUNA VISTA, TX. - Long-time Port Aransas resident and local legend Helen Shove Garrett, age 95, passed away while looking out onto the bay on Friday, the 17th of June 2022 at home with her family in Laguna Vista, Texas. She joins her husband Captain Jake Garrett and many of her friends and family in heaven.

She is survived by her sons Steve (Sharon) and David (Nancy), her grandchildren Christene, Sarah, Chance, Alexis, Hunter and Betsy, and her great-grandchildren Danielle, Xander, Severin, Tallulah, Jacob, Olivia, Emma and Chloe.

Helen was born in Oberlin, Louisiana in 1926. She graduated from Webster High School and started a family in Houston, Texas. She moved to Portland, TX with her husband, Captain Jake Garrett, where they lived until they began travelling around the world making life-long friendships wherever they went. Helen lived in Brazil, Trinidad, the Ivory Coast, United Arab Emirates, and Scotland before returning to the United States, establishing her home in Port Aransas, Texas in the 70’s. Helen and Jake travelled extensively throughout the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Europe, South America, and West Africa.

Although she retired from the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, she (along with Jake) never stopped being parents or grandparents to the graduate students who lived in the neighboring student housing. Jake and Helen spent their retirement travelling, spending time with friends, and hosting parties at their house on Brumley Street. Helen’s door was always open.

Helen was an avid reader and had served as a board member of the Ellis Memorial Library. She read thousands of books and was reading until the day she passed. Helen was an active member of Trinity by the Sea Episcopal Church. She is preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Ruth Shove and elder sister Betty Ruth Coons.

Memorial service to be held in the fall, once “those damn tourists leave”. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ellis Memorial Library.

Memories of Helen may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111 .