Garmon West Moore was born on Monday, May 24, 1937, and passed from this life on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Garmon was born in Morganton, North Carolina, to the late Bessie Moore Hardy. His grandparents ensured he learned of the Lord at an early age in the Shiloh AME church. Garmon attended Olive Hill High School in Morganton, where he participated in several extracurricular activities, including basketball, football, baseball, and the Future Farmers of America club. The club was the beginning of his love for gardening. After graduating high school, Garmon attended Knoxville College in Tennessee, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. While at Knoxville College, he joined the Alpha Phi Alpha "Men of Distinction" Fraternity.

After graduating from Knoxville College in 1961, Garmon enlisted in the United States Army. His first duty station was at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. He was later stationed at the Army Chemical Center in Maryland. After his time in the Army, Garmon found his way to Bristol, TN, where he began teaching science at Slater High School. He taught for two years before being terminated due to the integration of the school system. He enjoyed pouring his love for science into the next generation of students. After his teaching experience, Garmon began working for the S.E. Massengill Company as a microbiologist. Through several name changes (Massengill, Beecham, Smithkline Beecham and Glaxo Smithkline) Garmon had a successful 30 year career before retiring in 1997. He quietly was responsible for several patented inventions during his years as a microbiologist.

Garmon met the love of his life in Bristol, a Knoxville College alum like himself, Joyce Enochs. The two of them married on July 21, 1973, at John Wesley United Methodist Church. From their union, they had one son, Cornelius. Garmon would serve faithfully at John Wesley for over 50 years as the financial secretary and other various ministries. He remained the financial secretary until recently when his health began to decline. Called "Farmer Garmon" by some, Garmon loved to grow plants, specifically vegetables. He often supplied his church family and the community at large with "eatables," as he would call them, from his garden. Everyone especially loved his greens, which he gladly shared with anyone who wanted a bundle. Many of his bundles of greens made their way across Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, and North Carolina. Garmon had many hobbies, and one included beekeeping. He was often found outside meddling in his garden and watching over his beehives. He also enjoyed collecting antique tools. When he wasn't outside, he was in his "man cave," enjoying his love of Jazz music. He would listen to classics on his LPs, vinyls, and eventually CDs. Before long, he evolved into taking in XM Radio just to keep up with the times.

Garmon had many things he enjoyed and loved, but it seemed that he was the proudest of his grandchildren. Every time they visited, he would make sure they helped him in his garden, whether it was planting seeds or pulling weeds. He last saw his oldest granddaughter, Dominique, on a video call for his 88th birthday. He was amazed that he could see and talk with her even though she was in England serving with the United States Air Force. Before ending their call, he gave her an honorary salute from one military soldier to the next. It was beautiful to behold.

Garmon was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Loretta Moore, his mother, Bessie Moore Hardy, and sister, Libby Hardy.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 51 years, Joyce; son, Cornelius (Deborah) of Charlotte, NC; brothers, Fred Moore and Thomas Hardy of Morganton, NC; sisters, Delois Lipford and Louise Tate of Morganton; brother-in-law, Robert Dean Gray of Shelby, MS; sisters-in-law, Peggy Enochs of Nashville, TN, JoWanda Bozeman of St. Louis, MO, and Patricia Gibbs (Tom) of La Habra Heights, CA; three grandchildren, Dominique, Cydney and Christopher; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to John Wesley United Methodist Church, 311 Lee St, Bristol, VA 24201.