Garland Wayne Carruthers, 76, of Cherokee, passed away Saturday, December 13, 2025. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 17, from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. The funeral service will immediately follow in the funeral home chapel with Roger Bond and Brent Wear officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
Wayne was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during Vietnam. He was a former police officer with Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals Police Departments, the former fire marshal with Muscle Shoals Fire Department, and business owner. Wayne loved to fish and to race dirt cars.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Christine Hamm; first wife, Mollie Faye Carruthers; sons, Lanny and Franky Carruthers; brother, Elvis Hamm; sisters, Sharon Blackstock, Sara Moore, and Farion Ann Carter; and lifelong friend and father-in-law, Leland Keeton.
Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Audra Carruthers; children, Tobey Carruthers (April), Braxton Carruthers (Annabel), and Chelsea Carruthers; special mother, Mollie Malone; mother-in-law, Judy Keeton; brother, Doc Hamm; sisters, Deanie Watson (Alton) and Brenda Wilbanks; granddaughter, Mackenzie Carruthers and one grandchild on the way; a host of nieces and nephews; and his grand dogs, Whiskey, Zillah, and Boudreaux.
Pallbearers are Braxton Carruthers, Cody Howard, Terry Lewis, Josh Putnam, Chuck Gibson, Jr., and Daniel McBay. Honorary pallbearers are Bob Wassen, Curtis Putnam, Chuck Gibson, Sr., and Dean Leslie.
The family expresses special thanks to Amedisys Hospice and especially April Gargis, his rock during his illness.
