Jimmy Ray Garner, resident of Fairview, Tennessee unexpectedly passed away on July 12, 2026, at the age of 77. Born on August 24, 1948, in Winchester, Tennessee, Jimmy lived a full life marked by the Father’s grace and mercy.

He graduated from Franklin County High School and received his Bachelor of Science in Business from MTSU after which he was drafted into the Army and served for two years.

Although born in Winchester, Jimmy called Fairview his home, and it was here that he raised a family and served the Lord.

Jimmy was a true Renaissance man, able to recognize a sonata from Mozart while also being able to quote episodes of The Three Stooges. He loved many things: gardening, perfecting his home-brewed beer, roasting coffee, playing golf with friends, and making award-winning breads and brisket for his family and friends. So much of his life was about bringing people together and serving them. His love language was service, and he loved his family and friends well.

Jimmy had a deep love for reading and discussing Scripture, and his faith guided every part of his life. Not only was he a witness for Christ in the U.S. but also in Kenya, Honduras, Russia, Israel, and beyond. He was a leader in Bible Study Fellowship and took those lessons home to his family. Further using the gifts the Lord had given him, Jimmy worked in a jail ministry for years tutoring inmates to help them earn their GEDs, giving many a strong foundation for a new beginning. He touched people of all walks of life and anyone who knew him was better for it.

Anchored firmly in God's Word, Jimmy never compromised the Truth for the sake of comfort or approval. He spoke with conviction, but always with grace, reflecting the heart of His holy and compassionate Father.

Jimmy married his high school sweetheart, Ocie Dodson, early on and loved her so well throughout their 57 years of marriage. As they grew together, he then somehow managed to learn how to live with three daughters and was a true reflection of the Father’s love.

And woven throughout it all was Jimmy's wonderfully dry sense of humor. His wit rarely demanded attention, but it was always perfectly timed, subtly understated, and often caught people by surprise.

Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Jessie Lou Garner.

He is survived by his children, Jennifer (Danny) Baker, Wendy Mangrum, and Jamie (Lee) Butler; grandchildren, Brandon (Brooke) and Spencer (Emily) Baker, Jessie Mangrum, and Wesley and Cameron Butler; and great-grandchild Josephine “Josie” Baker.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Men of Valor (Nashville) or CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship).