A 21-year-old Fairfield man has drowned at Forbes State Park near Omega.  Marion County Coroner Troy Cannon says Damon Garrison was swimming with friends in the beach area of the lake around two Thursday afternoon when he became exhausted and went under.  His friends tried to help him, but they were unable to keep him from going underwater.  Garrison was found in about 12 feet of water in the middle of the swimming area where he went under.  He was located by State Conservation officials with the use of a boat.

Damon Robert Garrison, 21, formerly of Flora and Olney, passed away Thursday, May 30, 2013, in Marion County. Damon was born on January 28, 1992, in Flora to Robert B. Garrison and Crystal (Randall) Hargraves. He married Brittney Hall on August 22, 2011, in Fairfield.

Damon had attended East Richland High School in Olney and worked for George Mitchell Drilling as a derrick hand. He loved doing anything that involved being outdoors, including hunting, fishing and four-wheeler riding, but most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his son.

He is survived by his son and the love of his life, Lane Axle Garrison; his wife, Brittney Garrison, of Cisne; mother, Crystal (Robert) Hargraves, of Olney; father, Robert (Cindi) Garrison, of Flora; maternal grandparents, Fred and Shirley Randall, of Flora; paternal grandmother, Lenore Garrison, of Flora; brothers and sisters, Mariah (Nathan) Block, of Noble, Cierra Hargraves, of Olney, Austin Birch, of Louisville, Brayanna Hargraves, of Olney, Jonathan Garrison, of Flora, Jarred Hargraves, of Olney, Christian Garrison, of Flora; a nephew, Ashton Block, of Noble; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Robert "Bob" Garrison, maternal great-grandparents, Arthur "Tom" and Kathryn Randall, and a cousin Stephanie Harris.

Published in Clay County Advocate-Press, (Flora, IL) - June 4, 2013