ERNA AMELIA OZMENT GARTON

Erna Amelia Ozment Garton, “Grandma GG”, 101, passed away Mar. 5, 2024, surrounded by the flowers she loved and first signs of Spring at her home in Orland, CA. She was born August 3, 1922, the 11th of 17 children of Hassie Genevia Parker Ozment and James Arthur Ozment in Sumterville, AL. She attended primary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Sumterville and high school in Livingston, AL before enrolling at Auburn University for 2 years at the start of World War II. She left college in 1943 to volunteer for the Marine Corps, was trained at Cook’s and Baker’s School after basic training at Hunter College in New York and served at Marine Corps Airbases in New River and Cherry Point, NC rising to Sergeant in charge of feeding 2200 women and officers. There she met Edward Garton, a Marine Corps pilot, on a blind date. Ed courted her while ferrying planes up and down the Atlantic Coast until his squadron of B-25 bombers was assigned to battle Japanese in the Islands scattered across the South Pacific. At the end of WWII Ed returned to the US Continent and Erna was discharged from the Marines while Ed was placed on inactive reserve for 10 years. Ed and Erna were married in Atlanta, Georgia on November 25, 1945. They moved to Chico, CA where both enrolled at Chico State College and Ed started working parttime to supplement their income from VA while pursuing degrees in home economics and accounting. After one year, Erna dropped out of college in 1947 at the birth of their son, Edward Ozment and started working part-time at a local flower shop, Dunwoodies on the Esplanade. Erna learned to make professional bouquets and was enthralled with the fun of gardening and flower arranging. Upon Ed’s graduation in Accounting they moved to Orland where Ed started an accounting practice that grew through the years and eventually expanded to include real estate brokerage and a variety of newly created businesses, including some Ed helped start, like Pak-Away bumpers and spare gas tanks. Their daughter Gail Elizabeth was born in 1950. In Orland Erna joined the American Baptist church where she regularly provided flower bouquets for services, weddings and events as well as leading the youth group and taking them to church summer camp at Camp Tehama along Mill Creek near Mineral, CA. Erna started a Cub Scout den and Brownie den for her children and their friends to join. Once Erna’s children left home for college, she took a 2 1/2 year course to become a national flower judge and started judging at county fairs throughout the northern half of the state, including the California State Fair held in Sacramento. To attain and maintain her rank as a Nationally Certified Flower Judge Erna had to win a minimum number of 1st place and Best of Show ribbons at yearly flower show competitions in Northern California, a status she maintained for more than 4 decades. Her accomplishments were recognized with various awards including the 1996 Helen S. Hill Award for Flower Arranger of the Year by the National Council of State Garden Clubs, the highest award presented nationally by the organization at their national meeting in Dallas, Texas. She was designated a “Living Treasure” by the Butte District of Garden Clubs of America, she was recognized with a “True American Hero” award by the Glenn County Fair Board in 2000 and Citizen of the Year by the Orland Historical Society. She received numerous awards of merit from the City of Orland and California State Flower Clubs. Erna was predeceased by her husband, Ed Garton in 2007 but is survived by her 2 children, Edward O. (Virginia) Garton of Moscow, Idaho and Gail (John) Ficher of Chico, 4 grandchildren Jodi (Adam) McClory and Tim (Tracy) Garton of Moscow, ID, John Ficher of Myrtle Point, OR and Hassie Ficher of San Marcos, CA and 7 great grandchildren. Sweet-Olson Mortuary of Orland is handling arrangements. A memorial service is planned for later in the year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Orland Free Library, 333 Mill St, Orland, Ca 95963.