John Richard Garst

John Richard Garst, a longtime resident of Pinckard, Alabama, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026. He was 84 years old.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Chris Woodall officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 10:00–11:00 a.m. at the funeral home on Saturday.

Richard was born on December 11, 1941, to Marion and Peggy Garst in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He grew up in Parker, Kansas, where he was a proud 1959 graduate of Parker Rural High School. He married the love of his life, Gloria Jean Troxel, and together they moved their family to the Pinckard area in 1974. Richard worked for Whatley Supply Company, Whatley Transportation, and Andrews Trucking Company.

Richard enjoyed his cats and dogs and loved watching and feeding the many birds at his home. He was an avid reader and a longtime member of Pinckard Baptist Church.

Later in life, he married Rose Cooper and moved to Hazelhurst, Georgia, with her granddaughter, Hadleigh.

Richard was preceded in death by Gloria Jean Garst, his wife of 58 years; his parents, Marion and Peggy Garst; his brother, Dale Garst; Gerry and Frank Mansfield, Mike Robinette, J.P. Partridge, Truman Stauffer, and Larry Byers.

Survivors include his children, Alicia Francine Garst Pescod (Joseph Windham), Joseph Marion Garst (Tina Garst), and John Richard Garst II (Grace Mordido-Martin); his grandchildren, Richard Pescod, Joseph Garst II (Michelle), Molly Pescod (Rickey), Justin Garst (Mekennah), Rosemary Tores Pescod (Camiĩo), AJ Martin, Shaun Martin, Riky Martin, Evan Garst, and Aeryn Garst; and his great-grandchildren, Kolby, Alexander, Richie, Samuel, Benji, Melody, Pippa, Jeremyah, and Odette.

He is also survived by his sisters, Fran (Eldon) Richardson, Patricia Stauffer, Marilyn Robinette, Deanna Byers, and Bonnie Partridge, along with a host of nieces and nephews.