Garnet A. Pettigrew

Garnet Pettigrew was an independent and assertive lady with a good sense of humor. Not wanting to be the center of attention, she liked being behind the scenes to take care of planning and hosting others. She loved her family dearly and whenever possible, she was there to support her children and grandchildren in their activities over the years.

After the stock market crash in October of 1929, America went into the Great Depression and American lives were changed. The year also was marked with the Museum of Modern Art being created, the first Academy Awards and Oscars were handed out, inventions of Motorola's first car radio and Charles Leiper Grigg's soft drink 7-Up. Along with these events was the birth of Garnet A. Bridegam on June 19, 1929. The first daughter of Carl M. and Loretta B. (Armel) Bridegam, she was born in Columbia City, Indiana.

With her dad's career with the railroad, Garnet helped her mother raise her younger siblings as they lived in rural Whitley County. She learned the value of hard work at an early age with the everyday chores at home, raising what they ate, canning vegetables and cleaning her aunts' homes. She looked forward to when her uncle, who was close to her age, would come to visit from the "big city" and spend time with them. On Sundays, one of her aunts would come by and take Garnet to First Church of God.

After graduating from Columbia City High School in 1947, she began her work career at the Blue Bell jean factory. On one particular evening out with friends, Garnet would meet a man that would change the course of her life forever. Jack M. Pettigrew was also at Happy Valley skating rink and the two talked and skated together. Jack told Garnet's older brother that he would take her home that evening, which Garnet's mother was not thrilled about when she learned this news. The young couple would go on to be married at First Church of God on July 24, 1949.

Garnet and Jack would welcome four children into their hearts and home. She helped Jack continue his family's business as they owned and operated Pettigrew Seed Corn along with being general farmers. They hosted international agricultural farmers through Purdue University to learn the skills of the seed corn industry and to take back to their homeland. Being a devote Christian, Garnet was very involved with First Church of God. She was active with her Sunday school class, the Defenders. She, Jack and the family would go to the Indiana State Parks at the end of the corn de-tasseling season in August for camping retreats with their church group and then would continue on with their family vacation trips.

She enjoyed tending to her vegetable and flower gardens, canning and even getting more exercise by push mowing. She was talented in everything she did. She knitted, crocheted, sewed many of the children's clothing and even their dolls clothes as well. If there was anything that needed mended or stitched up, she was right there with the thread and needle. Garnet loved having people around her to visit. She helped organize and put together her Class of 1947 reunion for over the past 20 years.

Sadly, Garnet's health slowed her down and her talented writing had to stop this past January. She loved to write, send letters and Christmas cards. Garnet had been keeping a diary since she was a teenager, filled with her daily activities and life events. Life forever changed for her on April 1, 2014 when she lost her husband and best friend. With having a strong faith, she knew she would be reunited with Jack again. On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, Garnet A. Pettigrew, 90, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away at 9:41 p.m. at Ashton Creek Health & Rehab Center in Fort Wayne.

She is survived by her sons, Alyn M. Pettigrew, of Fort Wayne and Bruce E. (Jenelle) Pettigrew of Berryville, Arkansas; daughters, Lorene A. (Neil) Perry, of Columbia City and Lisa M. Hackworth, of Fort Wayne; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Marvin (Ellen) Bridegam, of Columbia City; sister, Irene (Clifford) Gagnon, of Leesburg; and sisters-in-law, Karen Bridegam, of Columbia City and Karen Bridegam, of Brownsville, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Loretta Bridegam; husband, Jack Pettigrew; brothers, Harold, Paul, Von and Thomas Bridegam; sisters, Patricia (Paul) Gates and Aletha (Paul) Sills; and son-in-law, Chris Hackworth.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 10-12:45 p.m. Friday, August 2, 2019 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. with Pastor Johnny McCallister officiating. Burial will follow at Union Township Cemetery. Memorials may be given in her memory to First Church of God. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family condolences online.