Ed Garre

May 31 1921 – Nov 14 2010

With the death of Ed Garre, the Garre’s lost the core of their family and Auburn lost an icon. As owner of Auburn’s Radio KASY from 1958 to 1989 he was, as one Auburn business owner put it, “Auburn’s greatest ambassador.” He was active in numerous clubs and civic activities, was the popular MC for most all of Auburn’s community events, and organized the Auburn Auto Dealers into the successful advertising cooperative widely known as the “Little Detroit of the West.” The son of Italian immigrant farmers, Ed was born in Tacoma. He graduated from Fife High in 1939, followed by college at St. Martins and Gonzaga. He served in the Navy during WWII and married his high school sweetheart June Reck in 1944. Together they owned and operated KASY, enjoyed an active social life including many years of boating, and raised their three children. Ed’s legacy in business, as expressed by a local retailer, is that he was instrumental in “shaping and molding this town.” But the legacy for which he will be remembered most by family and friends is the example he set by being, simply, a good man…a devoted husband for 66 years, a caring father and grandfather who remained involved in their lives to his final day, a man who dealt with severe physical disabilities for 22 years without bitterness and with amazing perseverance, and who loved his caregivers like family, most recently at Dorothy’s Angel Haven in Auburn. His grandchildren have often expressed that “Grandpa sure set the bar high,” and hope they can follow his lead. What better testament than that for a life well lived. Ed is survived by his three children; Dennis Garre (Peggie), Susan Barkshire (Bob), and Diana Joiner (Chuck), eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will be held in Auburn at 10:00 on Saturday November 20 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 505 17th St. SE, with a reception following.

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