Dorothy Garrison Baum

Dorothy Janelle Garrison Baum

Born  Nov 7, 1931 in Paducah, Texas

Died  April 7, 2020 in Austin, Texas

Survivors:  husband, Gerald Baum of Austin, Texas; sons, Greg Baum and Doug Baum of Austin, Texas. 

Nephews & Nieces: Kendal Garrison and daughters Krystal Miller & family and Kasey Sue Garrison and family of Amarillo, Texas;  Byron and Tamye Garrison of Lubbock, Texas and Brianne Garrison Hillman and family of Olathe, Kansas.

Proceeded in Death:

Father:  Horace Levi Garrison

Mother:  Jessie Lee Garrison

Brother:  Norwin Gene Garrison

Dorothy was born and raised in rural Cottle County and the city of Paducah, Texas on Nov 7, 1931 to H.L. (Preacher) and Jessie Lee Brewster Garrison. They lived on a farm north of Paducah near the community of Dunlap. One of her favorite memories of the farm was watching the bright-hued sunsets that appeared in the background of the farm’s windmill.

Dorothy attended and graduated from Paducah High School in 1948. Class reunions were always a hoot for her, spawned many a raucous story retelling, and gave her a chance to recount for others the mischievous antics of her classmates (and her!) that kept rural teenagers entertained.

She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Wesleyan University and with a Master’s Degree from North Texas University and became a secondary teacher. For years Dorothy loved the frequent lunches with her fellow teachers from Lamar Junior High School and later on Reagan High School while they checked out the latest Austin cuisine.

Eventually Dorothy accepted a professional position at the Texas Education Agency to work as an Education Specialist and lead a Texas region of Business Professional students and sponsors. This work allowed her to travel across Texas making numerous friends in the process, though her fondest moments were finding the best desserts, especially pies, in small town cafes. The students she worked with in the Business Professional program adored her and kept in contact with her for decades.

Dorothy was a long-time member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Austin. Whether on or off the Session there, she spoke her mind and “walked the talk” of her spiritual beliefs and humanitarian convictions.

Dorothy was also a faithful follower and supporter of the University of Texas programs, especially the UT football and women’s basketball teams. Her U.T. sports enthusiasm probably contributed to her occasional high blood pressure, but the heat, rain and snow never deterred her attendance in school-colored regalia.

She relished her role as the family matriarch, especially during Christmas celebrations in Paducah with her beloved sons, nephews, and other kin. There she took command of the kitchen with humor and her organizational skills. Holidays were graced with her trademarks — cornbread dressing and the world’s best peanut brittle.

You could count on Dorothy for well-reasoned advice and an unedited opinion. While she proudly described herself as a Yellow Dog Democrat, it was amazing how she maintained longtime friendships with those whose views differed from hers — a model for our times.

Counting Dorothy’s friends would be as fruitless as trying to count the stars in the night sky. She was loved by so many for her humor, candor, wisdom, honesty, caring and adventuresome personality. Dorothy was ageless, beautiful in every sense, and as energetic as an Ever-Ready Bunny both physically and mentally. Her sudden passing leaves a gaping hole in the hearts and minds of the many who had the good fortune of knowing her meteoric spirit.