Floyd Garland

Floyd Baxter Garland, 93, of Hillsboro, passed away Thursday, April 7, 2005, at his residence. The son of Fred Baxter and Fannie Garner Garland, Floyd was born January 6, 1912 in Chelsea, OK where he grew up working on the family farm. On Dec. 1, 1930 he married Roxie Mae Henry in Claremore, OK. The love of his life, they were together 72 years before she preceded him in death on Dec. 20, 2002. The couple farmed and was also in the motel business. In 1970, they moved to Hillsboro where they owned and operated the Thunderbird Motel. After many years in the motel business there, they sold their business and returned to Oklahoma where they lived eighteen months. They then moved back to Hillsboro where they owned and operated the Best Western Motel until his retirement. Floyd enjoyed riding and training cutting horses. He also trained bird dogs and enjoyed hunting. He was able to enjoy riding his horses up to the age of 83. He was a member of Walnut Street Baptist Church in Hillsboro. Also preceding him in death were his parents, and a son, Joe Boyd Garland in 1934. A loving father and grandfather, he is survived by a son, James William Garland and wife, Patty of Pittsburg, TX; one daughter, Betty Amuso of Hillsboro; two sisters, Barbara Smith and husband, Leonard, of Dallas, and Jo Ella Wilson of El Reno, OK; one brother Kenneth Keltner and wife, Verna, of Claremore, OK; four grandchildren, Jack Lowrey of Chouteau, OK, Renee Boyd and husband, Jake of Crosby, Sharon Garland Sweeten and husband, Marshall, of Absecon, NJ, and Leigh Ann Rylance and husband, Chris, of Austin; six great-grandchildren, Christy Billey and husband, Charles, Jordan Garland Palamar, Chelsea McMullin, Cortni Sanders, Aspen Roxan Boyd, and Bradley Boyd; one great-great grandchild, Brittani Billey; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to either Hospice of the Heart, PO Box 2081, Hillsboro TX 76645 or Walnut Street Baptist Church, PO Box 1144, Hillsboro TX 76645.