Our History

The Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home, Inc. is an establishment which prides itself on tradition and commitment to excellence. With these standards in mind, the Garrett Funeral Home has served Titusville and the surrounding communities for over forty years. 

Our tradition began in 1965 when Gordon B. Garrett purchased the E.A. Peterson Funeral Home. A 1953 graduate of the Pennsylvania Institute of Mortuary Science, Mr. Garrett finished his two-year internship with the George Cunningham Funeral Home of West Middlesex, PA before relocating to Titusville in the winter of 1956. He was employed by Mr. Peterson until the latter’s death at which time he and his wife Marcia purchased the business. 

For nearly fifty years, the Garrett Funeral Home has treated its clients with care and respect, and in turn has been honored by several professional organizations. In 1968, the business was honored by an invitation to join the National Selected Morticians Association, the members of which are held to the highest professional standards. We continue to be members of NSM (now called Selected Independent Funeral Homes), the National Funeral Directors Association, the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, and the Titusville Chamber of Commerce. 

Our current staff continues to uphold the quality practices and care with which we were founded. Owner and President Todd C. Garrett, son of Gordon Garrett, has been employed by the funeral home since his graduation from the Pennsylvania Institute of Mortuary Science in 1990. Vice-President and fellow funeral director Jayce E. Pertz is entering his thirtieth year at the funeral home. Joseph S. Anderson and Jayla M. Pertz, both 2012 graduates of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, have recently joined our team of directors. Our staff is complimented by assistant Mark Hopwood and office manager Leigh Garrett Anderson. 

Gordon B. Garrett, Founder 
1953 Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science 
1952 West Middlesex High School 

Mr. Gordon B. Garrett, 80, of 311 N. Washington St., Titusville passed away Wednesday afternoon September 10, 2014 at Southwoods Assisted Living Community in Titusville. He had been a resident there for the past year.

Mr. Garrett was born on June 3, 1934 in Sharon, PA to the late Gordon G. “Bill” and Ruth Brown Garrett. He married Marcia Howard on August 9, 1957 in Sharon, PA.

He was a graduate of West Middlesex High School, class of 1952 and a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Mr. Garrett began working in Titusville on January 3, 1956 for the E. A. Peterson Funeral Home and on April 1, 1965 the business was purchased by Gordon and Marcia. He never completely retired from doing the job he loved and helping the families of his community.

Mr. Garrett was a veteran having served in the US Army. He entered the service on May 22, 1957 at Pittsburgh, PA. After serving overseas, he was honorably discharged at Ft. Dix, NJ on May 14, 1959.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an usher for many years and was also an Elder of the church. He was a member and past president of the Titusville Lions Club; a member of the Titusville Lodge No. 754 F&AM; a member of the Oil City Lodge of Perfection; a member of the New Castle Consistory; a member of the Zem Zem Shrine of Erie; and also of the Colonel Drake Shrine Club. He served on many civic organizations throughout his life in Titusville.

Gordon enjoyed playing golf with his wife and kids; spending winters with his wife in Florida; and grooming his lawn to perfection.

He is survived by his bride Marcia of Titusville; four children, Leigh Ann Anderson and husband Scott of Titusville, Amy Hills and husband Brian of Grand Rapids, MI, Carol Turk and husband Travis of Phoenix, AZ, Todd Garrett of Titusville; nine grandchildren, Kelly Gregg and husband Tucker of Grove City, Joseph Anderson and fiancé Jordan Wetherbee of Titusville, USMC 1st Lieut. Benjamin Anderson and wife Alyssa of Jacksonville, NC, Clark Hills of Grand Rapids, MI, Avery and Zane Turk of Phoenix, AZ, Katelyn, Olivia and Jack Garrett of Titusville and one great grandson, Thomas Gregg.

Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church 216 N. Franklin St., Titusville, PA 16354; to the Alzheimer’s Association 1128 State Street Suite 301 Erie, PA 16501-1920; or to Hospice of Crawford County 310 N. Monroe St. Titusville, PA 16354.