Laurence D. Garrettson, better known as Whitey, lost his battle with cancer, peacefully, at his home on Thursday, Aug. 22.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Whitey has made St. Thomas his home since 1970. After serving in Vietnam from 1962-1969 on swift boats, he continued his seafaring ways in the Caribbean.
Whitey created a vast network of friends too numerous to mention who will sorely miss his genuine smile and kind heart.
Whitey was preceded in death by his father, Joseph and mother, Ella (Ferguson). Whitey is survived by his wife of 25 years, Leslie McMillan Garrettson; brothers: Edd and his wife Lena, and Daryl and his wife Belinda; and many nieces and nephews of Portland, Oregon. He will be missed by his sister-in-law, Julie Grubbs and her husband Dan of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and brother-in-law, Gordon McMillan and his children of Atwood, Indiana.
A celebration of Whitey’s life will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Hook, Line and Sinker in Frenchtown.
A private burial at sea will be held at a later date.
