Garnet Ruth (Fannin) Olson

 Garnet Ruth Fannin Olson passed away peacefully on April 23, 2026, at her home in Pendleton, Oregon. She was born on July 12, 1959, at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico to Harold and Ada (Funk) Fannin, the cherished middle child of three children. Because of her father’s service in the United States Air Force, Garnet’s early years were filled with adventure and travel as the family lived in North Dakota, Utah, Spain, Turkey, Alabama, Ohio, and Alaska. These experiences helped shape her curiosity, resilience, and appreciation for people and places.

Garnet was blessed with a quick mind, keen intellect, and extraordinary attention to detail. She graduated from Brigham Young University’s School of Business and became a Certified Public Accountant. She worked for a CPA firm and found great satisfaction in accounting and tax preparation, often helping family and friends. Garnet was known for her precision and determination—even a single penny discrepancy in her books would not rest until it was found. Though illness eventually required her to step away from her beloved profession, she carried those gifts of diligence and discipline throughout her life.

Never one to shy away from challenge, Garnet also attended the police academy and served as a part-time reserve officer. She possessed both courage and confidence, qualities that were also evident in her adventurous spirit. Garnet loved skydiving, owned her own parachute, and made many jumps. She competed in parachute precision events and earned several ribbons for her skill and daring performances in the sky.

Garnet found joy and peace in the beauty of the outdoors. She loved hiking, fishing, camping, picnics, target shooting, and picking blueberries. On walks and hikes, she would pause to admire flowers and plants, many of which she could identify by name. She delighted in the wonders of creation and never lost her sense of awe for the natural world.

She was a woman of many talents and interests. Garnet was a gifted dancer and a sought-after partner at dances. She loved to sew and often created thoughtful handmade gifts for those she loved. She enjoyed beadwork and had been crafting an intricate scripture bag featuring the Anchorage Alaska Temple. She also loved tending her garden, preserving its harvest, and sharing generously with neighbors and friends.

Garnet had a deep love for family history and faithfully served as a consultant in her church ward, helping others discover their ancestors. She was devoted to her faith and studied the gospel daily, spending many hours in the scriptures and preparing lessons from Come, Follow Me. Her thoughtful insights and knowledgeable comments blessed many in church classes and discussions.

Music was another source of joy and comfort in Garnet’s life. She played the piano, sang beautifully, and shared her angelic voice in the church choir. Sacred music often filled her home as she went about her daily tasks, bringing peace and strength to her spirit.

Above all, Garnet loved her family deeply and spoke of them often with pride and affection. She celebrated their talents, rejoiced in their accomplishments, and treasured every visit and opportunity to be together. Her love was especially evident in the countless hours and boundless energy she devoted to caring for others. She tirelessly researched doctors, treatments, and options for her mother’s cancers, as well as medical care and support for her sister’s mental and physical ailments. She carefully investigated assisted living facilities and ensured they always had the care and assistance they needed. Without Garnet’s devotion, wisdom, and determination, the final months and years of her mother’s and sister’s lives would have been far more difficult and somber.

In 1990, Garnet met Mike Olson while they were living in the same condominium complex in Anchorage, Alaska. Friendship grew through shared conversations and working together on condominium association matters, where Mike served as president and Garnet as secretary. Their friendship blossomed into love. When Mike, an avid diver, shared his love of Hawaii, Garnet decided to become a certified diver so she could join him there. Together they chose Hawaii as the perfect place to marry, and on April 24, 1991, they were united in marriage. They shared 35 wonderful years together.

Later, Mike and Garnet moved to Pendleton, Oregon, where they built their home on Gateway Avenue. Garnet designed the house, Mike designed the shop, and she remained there until her passing.

Garnet is survived by her loving husband, Mike Olson; step-sons Billy and Matt; her brother Chuck (Lisa) Fannin; nieces and nephews Tiffany (Jesse) Lund, Kenny (Megan) Fannin, Travis (Rachel) Fannin, Krystal (Brock) Flores, and Sarah “Sadie” (Chris) Bastian; as well as many beloved grandnieces, grandnephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Ada (Funk) Fannin, and her sister, Marina.

Garnet will be remembered for her intelligence, adventurous spirit, generosity, unwavering faith, and the deep love she gave so freely to family and friends. Her life was one of service, strength, and grace, and her memory will be treasured always.