Stephan R. Garmon, 66, of Paris, TX rejoined his father’s Dixieland band in heaven at 10:51 am on April 21, 2020.
Stephan was born in Ft. Worth, TX on August 6, 1953 to Richard and Anita Russell Garmon. Stephan graduated from Arlington High School and attended the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of North Texas. He auditioned and was accepted into the Army Band in 1973 and was trained in the Army Navy School of Music in Virginia. Stephan served three years in Germany in the Army Band-Headquarters Europe. After being discharged from the Army, he served three years in the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest.
Stephan learned to play the bugle while in Boy Scouts. When his commanding officer in the Army discovered that he could play bugle, he became the company bugler. After his military service, Stephan loved to play Taps for military funerals and continued to do so with Bugles Across America until he was no longer able to play. He was honored to be the official bugler for the Memorial Day Ceremony in downtown Chicago on May 25, 2013.
Stephan was an accomplished musician and low brass specialist. He played in many pit orchestras, society bands, and in his father’s Dixieland band, “Brother Jolly and the Saints.” Stephan especially liked to play his trombone for the church, and he loved making children laugh when he played the Looney Tunes theme.
While in the military, Stephan learned to repair band instruments. He continued to do this as a career after his discharge. He loved to take broken things and make them new again. In 2006, he learned to be a piano tuner and repairman and started his own business, Music Matters and More.
On November 2, 2002, Stephan married the love of his life and his soulmate, Martha Isbell, at First United Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. Martha was his third wife, but as she predicted the day before their wedding, she was his last. In their seventeen years of marriage, Stephan partnered with Martha in the music and worship ministry and together they travelled, cooked, made wine and beer, and served the Lord. Although he was not able to convince Martha to add “laughing at my jokes” to their wedding vows, he was somehow always able to make her laugh. It is his laugh that will be missed most by those who knew him.
Stephan was preceded in death by his father, Richard Garmon and is survived by his mother – Anita Garmon, wife – Martha Garmon, brother – Randy Garmon (Pam), step children, Brandon Machell (Kirbie), Leia Coleman (Chase), daughters – Michelle Garmon and Rachael Scott, and grandchildren – Whitley Machell, Hayes and Landry Coleman, and Holden, David, and Alanna Scott.
Stephan’s ashes will be interred at the Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. A graveside service will be held at a later date. Cremation was under the care and direction of Bright-Holland Funeral Home. To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ALS Association or the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.
