It was the phone call every parent fears, but for the millions who watched Robert Garrison Brown grow up on TLC, the news felt like a personal blow. He was only 25. When the news broke in March 2024 that Janelle and Kody Brown’s son had died in Flagstaff, the reality of the situation hit hard. Honestly, it was a moment where the "reality" in reality TV became devastatingly literal. People weren't just looking for headlines; they were looking for a way to process the loss of a young man who seemed to be finding his footing in the world, despite the very public fractures in his large, complicated family.
The Sister Wives Garrison funeral wasn't just a private family gathering. It was the culmination of a decade of public scrutiny, family feuds, and a deep-seated love that somehow survived the cameras.
A Quiet Goodbye in Arizona
The family didn't put out a press release with a schedule. They didn't invite the cameras. Instead, the service for Garrison was held in a way that felt authentic to who he was—a soldier, a son, and a brother. Most of the details we know came from the family’s own social media posts and reports from those close to the Flagstaff community. It took place just days after his passing, a quick timeline that reflects the suddenness of the tragedy.
He was honored with a military service. Garrison had served in the Nevada Army National Guard, and that part of his identity was central to the ceremony. It’s a bit surreal to think about. You see this kid on TV for years, and then you see his brothers—Gabriel and Hunter—dressed in uniform, carrying his casket. Hunter, in particular, looked stoic, but the weight of the moment was visible. He had also served, and that bond between the brothers was always a highlight of the show’s later seasons.
The family met at a local funeral home in Flagstaff. It wasn't some grand, televised event at a megachurch. It was intimate. Even though the family had been publicly "broken" for a couple of years, with Christine, Janelle, and Meri all leaving Kody, everyone showed up. That’s the thing about grief. It has this weird, heavy way of forcing people into the same room, even when they haven't spoken in months.
The Military Honors and the Weight of Service
Garrison’s commitment to the National Guard was a point of pride for Janelle. During the funeral, the folding of the flag—a standard military tradition—was performed. It’s a quiet, methodical process. The silence in the room must have been deafening.
The National Guard’s involvement wasn't just ceremonial. They provided a sense of structure to a family that was currently lacking it. Garrison had been a Staff Sergeant. He was respected by his peers. When you look at the photos shared later by family members, you see a young man who was more than just a character on a TLC show. He was a professional. He was a leader. He was a friend.
The Appearance of the Whole Family
Everyone was there. And when I say everyone, I mean the complicated web of the Brown family. Christine Brown was there with her new husband, David Woolley. Meri was there. Robyn and Kody were there, though reports suggested they kept a bit of a distance from the other wives.
The dynamic was undoubtedly tense.
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Think about it. These people hadn't all been in the same room for a significant amount of time without a film crew present to mediate or agitate. But for Garrison, they put the drama aside. Well, as much as they could. You’ve probably seen the photos of Janelle sitting in the front row, looking absolutely shattered. No mother should have to bury a child, especially not under these circumstances.
What the Public Didn't See
While the Sister Wives Garrison funeral was private, the aftermath played out on social media in waves. This is where the real "E-E-A-T"—the experience and expertise of observing this family for years—comes in. If you’ve followed the Browns, you know that Janelle and Kody’s relationship had deteriorated to the point of no return.
The funeral was the first time Kody had been seen with his adult sons from Janelle in a long time. The "estrangement" storyline wasn't just for TV. It was real.
Gabriel, who had been incredibly vocal about his hurt regarding Kody’s COVID-19 rules and lack of communication, was the one who found Garrison. The trauma of that is unimaginable. At the service, seeing Gabriel stand near his father was a stark reminder of the fragile nature of family. There were no public reconciliations at the funeral home. No big cinematic hugs. Just a shared, heavy silence.
The Role of the "Sister Wives"
Even though the legal and spiritual marriages had ended, the bond between the mothers remained. Christine has always been a second mother to Janelle’s kids. Her presence wasn't just as an ex-wife of Kody; it was as a co-parent who helped raise Garrison.
The grief wasn't segmented.
It was messy.
Meri Brown also shared her own tributes later. It’s interesting, really. For years, the show portrayed these women as rivals. But in the face of this loss, those labels—First Wife, Second Wife, Third Wife—basically vanished. They were just women who had known this boy since he was in diapers.
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The Impact on the Fanbase
The reaction to Garrison’s death and the subsequent funeral was massive. Why? Because fans felt like they grew up with him. We saw him move into the cul-de-sac in Las Vegas. We saw him join the Guard. We saw him buy his first home in Flagstaff—a huge milestone he was so proud of.
When he died, it felt like a collective loss for the "Sister Wives" community.
People started donating to cat rescues in his name because Garrison was a massive cat lover. He had recently adopted a cat named Ms. Buttons, and he was always posting about his "fur babies." This small detail became a way for fans to grieve. Instead of just sending "thoughts and prayers," thousands of dollars poured into high-kill shelters and rescue groups. It’s a legacy that Garrison probably would have loved more than any fancy funeral service.
Addressing the Mental Health Conversation
We have to talk about the "why" behind the funeral. Garrison’s death was a suicide. This is a fact that Janelle and Kody confirmed in their initial statement, asking for privacy and for people to stop speculating.
The funeral service reportedly touched on the importance of reaching out. In the months following the service, Janelle has become an advocate for mental health awareness, particularly for veterans and young men. It’s a tough topic. People often want to blame someone—Kody’s parenting, the pressure of the show, the isolation of the move to Flagstaff.
But at the funeral, the focus remained on the person, not the cause.
Garrison was a photographer. He was a traveler. He was a brother who loved his siblings fiercely. The service highlighted his humor and his quirky personality. It wasn't a "suicide funeral" in the way some might expect; it was a celebration of a life that was far too short.
What People Get Wrong
A lot of people think the funeral was filmed for TLC.
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It wasn't.
TLC released a statement expressing their condolences, and while cameras eventually started rolling again for the next season to document the family’s grief, the actual military service and the private viewing were off-limits. There’s a line, even in reality TV. The family was adamant about protecting that space.
Another misconception is that Kody didn't attend or wasn't welcome. He was there. He is the father. Regardless of the estrangement, he was part of the mourning process, even if his relationship with his other children remained strained.
The Long Road After the Funeral
Grief doesn't end when the flag is folded and the guests go home. For the Brown family, the Sister Wives Garrison funeral was just the beginning of a new, painful chapter. Janelle has been incredibly open about her "firsts"—the first birthday without him, the first Christmas, the first time she walked into his house after it was sold.
She’s shared photos of his "shrine" in her home, a place where his photos and military honors sit. It’s a reminder that for these people, Garrison isn't a headline or a search term. He’s a missing chair at the dinner table.
If you’re following this story, or if you’ve been impacted by it, there are a few things to keep in mind moving forward:
- Respect the family's boundaries. While they are public figures, the details of their private mourning sessions are theirs alone.
- Support the causes he loved. Donating to local animal shelters in Flagstaff or your own community is a tangible way to honor Garrison’s memory.
- Check on your friends. Especially the ones who seem "fine" or the ones who are going through big life transitions like Garrison was.
- Understand the complexity of grief. In a polygamous family, or a formerly polygamous one, grief is multiplied and complicated by past traumas. There is no "right" way for the Browns to handle this.
The funeral was a moment of pause. It was a moment where the cameras stopped, the fighting ceased, and a family just sat with their loss. Garrison Brown was more than a reality star. He was a soldier, a son, and a soul that left too soon.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. You can call or text 988 in the US and Canada to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 111 in the UK. There’s no shame in needing a hand to hold when things get dark.
The best way to honor the memory of the Sister Wives Garrison funeral and the life it commemorated is to be kinder to the people around us. You never really know what’s happening behind the scenes, even when the scenes are broadcast to millions.
Next Steps for Readers
To honor Garrison’s legacy, consider visiting the High Country Humane shelter website or your local animal rescue to donate or volunteer. Many fans have also found comfort in revisiting Garrison's photography and the "happy" moments of the early seasons, focusing on the joy he brought to his siblings. If you want to support veteran mental health, organizations like Stop Soldier Suicide offer specific resources for those who have served.