Garret Douglas Waggener

Garret Douglas Waggener, 23-year-old son of Andrea (Wes) Feese and Doug (Rachel) Waggener, departed from this life Monday, October 24, 2022, at 10:53 a.m. after a brave battle with a devastating neurodegenerative disease and dementia.

Garret was born August 15, 1999, at TJ Samson Hospital in Glasgow, KY. His first year was a difficult one but after his diagnosis of an immune deficiency (Bruton’s XLA) he began receiving immunotherapy and had a healthy childhood. Garret graduated from Adair County High School in 2017.

His immune deficiency meant lots of IV sticks and SubQ treatments, but he was always a trooper and growing up he kept the same outlook—“It is what it is.”

At 21 years old, Garret was diagnosed with a rare and progressive neurological disease with no cure or treatment. His family and friends will forever celebrate the grace Garret showed throughout his illness. He was wonderfully unafraid and never had a bitter thought, instead Garret chose to trust his family to care for him, to trust his doctors and to enjoy all the little things. He was at peace with the unfortunate cards he had been dealt and continued living his mantra, “It is what it is.”

Garret was so much more than his medical trauma. He will be remembered by all those who loved him for his sense of humor, quick wit, kind heart, goofy dance moves and unbelievable strength and courage. He loved everything: babies, food (especially taco soup and chicken and dumplings), video games, books and movies and music of every genre.

Garret’s life, though painfully short, will be celebrated every day by those who were blessed to know him. He is survived by his sisters: Sydney Waggener, Jade Waggener and Natalie Bardin; his brother, Alex Nickerson; and his grandparents: June and Bob Doig, Ralph and Glinda Waggener, Linda and Tommy Byrd, Jaime and Bruce White and Gordon Feese. Garret’s memory will be cherished by his best friend Anthony Gardener, who loved him like a brother, and his biggest fan club: Eli and Eva Iqbal and Jonah and Leighton Barhorst.

Aunts and Uncles: Chris Doig, Robbie Doig, Tracy Smith, Lee (William) Grider, Sharon Waggener, Kara (Shahid) Iqbal, Laura (Jon) Barhorst, Lori Harvey

Cousins: Joseph Grider, Zachary Grider, Emma Grider, Stephen Green, Andrew Green, Mason Doig, Isiah Smith, Ian Smith, Eli Iqbal, Eva Iqbal, Leighton Barhorst, Jonah Barhorst, Kaitlyn, Dusty and Elijah Todd, Isabella Harvey

Visitation will be Friday, October 28, 2022 starting at 2:00 P.M. with a service to begin at 6:00 P.M. at Grissom-Martin Funeral Home

Grissom-Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements