Local legend, Dr. Richard “Dick” Hill Garretson, passed away on June 25, 2025, in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia, on July 24, 1938, to coal miner Richard Marvin and seamstress Joy Hill Garretson and called Mt. Vernon home after serendipitously answering an ad for physicians in The New England Journal of Medicine in 1967.
After graduating Huntington East High School, Dick planned to work in manufacturing, but fortunately a neighbor encouraged him to explore college classes. He graduated from Marshall University with a major in zoology and a minor in English. He recently celebrated his 61st class reunion at West Virginia University School Medical School, where he focused on family practice. After completing a one year rotating medical internship/residency, Dick was drafted into the Navy in 1965. For the next two years, he traveled extensively in Southeast Asia as part of the Navy Medical Corps. Then came the call to practice medicine in Southern Illinois.
His lengthy career as a physician was marked by his philosophy that “everyone deserves care” and included at last four generations of patients. He never turned away a patient and went above and beyond for anyone who crossed his path – friend, loved one or patient, whether in the office, the emergency department, or his living room. Dick and Janet sponsored a Vietnamese family through the International Rescue Committee after the war and the three of them lived with the Garretsons for 2 years before forging their future in Washington state. Dick joined the Air Force Reserves in the 1980s and worked through Scott Air Force base until he retired as a Colonel. For 24 years, he served Jefferson County as Coroner, one of the longest-serving coroners in its history. His time spent caring for families as a physician taught him the compassion shared with those families and their loved ones when they needed it most. Just one paragraph cannot contain the magnitude of all that Dr. Garretson did for the community of Mt. Vernon and greater Jefferson County.
Dick had numerous hobbies and interests including fishing and hunting and was a founding member of the Shawnee Hunters. He loved playing and watching football, especially Marshall’s Thundering Herd and the WVU Mountaineers. He reveled in celebrating his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. His accolades and awards include Jefferson County Senior Saints Hall of Fame in 2022, WVU Medical School Emeritus award upon his 50th anniversary of graduation, Shawnee Hunter Emeritus of 2010, Illinois Rural Physician of Excellence Award in 2005, and Best General Doctor in Jefferson County. He also served as Medical Staff President of Good Samaritan in 1986, was a long-time board member of the Jefferson County Health Department, and was active in several civic organizations. His humor was unmatched and often left you with something to ponder, and more than often made you blush.
Dick is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Janet; son Dick Garretson and wife Sandra of Waterloo; daughter Marian Heuer of Swansea; daughter Jessica Hall and husband Brett of Mt.Vernon; daughter Jenny Kelly and husband Ben of Phoenix, AZ; son William Garretson and fiancée Amber of Millington, TN; daughter-in-law Maureen Garretson of Columbia, IL; granddaughters: Sara Tex and husband Neal, Kristy Johnson and husband Andy, Jessica Backs and husband Brandon, Elizabeth, Carly, Gracie, Slater, Caroline, Ellie, and Molly, grandsons Finnegan and Waylon; great granddaughters Rachel, Quinn, Audrey, Autumn and Summer; and great grandsons Dane and Sawyer. He was preceded in death by his younger brother Larry in childhood, father Richard, Mother Joy, step father Carl Bell, sister Libby Schofield, daughter Doris Louise Garretson, sons Steve Garretson and Eric Houser, great granddaughter Eleanor, daughter-in-law, Debbie Garretson, father-in-law Fred Justice, mother-in-law Betty Justice, sister-in-law Jill Justice, and brothers-in-law John and Jeff Justice.
A visitation will be held Sunday, July 6, 2025 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. A funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.