Calvin & Betty Garley Scholarship Legacy

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Ecclesiastes 9:10 

Calvin D. Garley was born on April 7, 1926 in Duluth, Minnesota. He passed away on January 31, 2000. He was a WWII veteran, was awarded the Purple Heart, and survived a German POW camp. He was a self-taught architect and contractor of apartment buildings. 

Everyone who knew Cal was aware of his lifelong passion for music due to his participation in church choirs, playing the organ, saxophone and clarinet. He enjoyed decades of involvement with Barbershop singing with numerous quartets and choruses. He became a Chorus Director and helped produce many of their programs.

Horses were another of Cal’s passions starting in the ‘60s with Quarter horses, to breeding, training and showing 100 Arabian horses in the ‘80s. He also enjoyed travel; particularly driving during family vacations, to Barbershop sing-outs or to horse shows.

Cal’s first love, which inspired all others, was his love for and dedication to the Lord Jesus.

On July 26, 2005 another voice was added to the heavenly Simpson Choir. Betty Mae Garley went to be with her Lord on July 26, 2005. She and Calvin had been married for 53 years.

Betty was survived by their children Carol (Steve) Schroeder, John (Elaine) and Tom (Karen); six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and her brother LeRoy (Evelyn) Toth. 

An enduring faith in God sustained her through two brain aneurisms. Betty and Calvin had not been married long when she had her first aneurism. The pain was so bad that Betty said "whatever will bring glory to the Lord (i.e. to live or die) is what I want.” A third aneurism took her life at the age of 78.

Throughout her life, Betty continued her sweet nature, and seldom if ever complained, even though her short term memory was destroyed 40 years earlier. After her memory loss, Betty never lost her love for music, especially the old Hymns. Her memory for the words of the Hymns was amazing, and quite often she would even tell you what page each hymn was on in her blue hymn book.

Through Calvin and Betty’s love for Christ and their passion for Christian education, they established a scholarship fund of nearly $500,000 through their godly stewardship. We give thanks to God for the testimony of Calvin and Betty Garley.
 
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