Garland Rexford Brinlee III

Garland Rexford “Tres” Brinlee III entered into eternal rest on Sunday, October 8, 2023. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 2-5 p.m. with a remembrance service to be at 3:30 p.m. at Blue Mounds Valley Ranch, Hwy 28, Chelsea.

Tres was born on May 9, 1959, in Tulsa to Garland Rexford Brinlee Jr. and Margaret Teter Brinlee. He attended Chelsea Schools and graduated in 1977. It was in high school that he met and married Terri Wilson. Their union brought them a son, Garland Rexford Brinlee IV.

In 1980, Tres married Karla Freudenthaler. They lived throughout NE Oklahoma before settling back in Chelsea. During their union, they were blessed with two daughters, Kathryn and Lilee. Although they parted ways in 2006, they remained friends to the end.

Garland made his career in painting and management. He began painting at Telex in Tulsa and later owned his own company, ProCoat in Chelsea, painting rods and reels for Zebco. Later, he began working at Hemsaw before retiring in 2020 as the shipping/receiving warehouse manager. It was at Hemsaw that he was blessed to meet Jana Durrant and create a loving and cherished relationship that made them the centerpiece of each other’s life. Their relationship also brought him the blessing of her children and grandchildren.

Tres was a man of many hobbies. He was a fish master, whether it was on the family pond or fly fishing on the river in Gatson. At a young age he fell in love with music. Throughout his life, he became a guitar aficionado, singer, and song writer. Other hobbies he enjoyed were painting, baking, philosophy, orchid cultivator, and spending hours hiking with Jana. All these hobbies were done with him wearing his favorite attire, a Hawaiian shirt. He spent his last years of life enjoying the views of the family ranch and the preservation of it, all while sipping an iced coffee and enjoying his cookies.

Garland is preceded in death by his father Garland Brinlee Jr.; sister Nikki Merritt; grandparents; and many aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his partner in life Jana Durant, of the home; children Garland Brinlee IV and wife Kristine, Kathryn Brinlee and husband Dylan Barto, and Lilee Brinlee; grandchildren Ford and KennaDee Brinlee; parents Margaret and Frank Spence; siblings; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.