Community is saddened by loss of entertainment and tourism professionals

Branson mourns the loss of four community members—all professionals in the tourism and entertainment industry and beloved area residents—Duane Williams, Fay Dooms, Richard Vahldick and Bonnie Garrett.

Duane Williams was working with a hotel management company when he was assigned to manage Branson’s Barrington Hotel on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway. Williams fell in love with the area and was disappointed when his assignment ended and he was relocated to New Jersey. However, the owners of the Barrington Hotel offered Williams the general manager position, and he returned to Branson. He would later serve as manager of the Guest House Hotel and Foxborough Inn and worked with the Morris Hotel Group and the Myers Hotel Group. Williams served as President of the Branson Lodging Association and the Shepherd of the Hills Association. Williams’ forte was sales and marketing, and he worked with many Branson shows, packaging show tickets with hotel stays to draw people to Branson. Williams attended all of the major group travel and motorcoach conventions and traveled many miles to promote the town he loved. 

Many know Fay Dooms as the mother and biggest fan of saxophone great Gary Dooms, but Fay spent many years in the entertainment business herself. Fay served as the CEO of Shoji Tabuchi Incorporated for over 25 years. During that time, Dooms was more than an employee, she was just like family to legendary musician and vocalist Shoji Tabuchi, his wife, Dorothy, and daughter Christina. In a social media post, Christina Lingo Tabuchi noted, “Ms. Fay taught me so much about life and about business. There are so many lessons she taught me along the way that I still take with me today and apply. She was the be all, end all for our family, personally and professionally.”

Richard Vahldick was a well known face in the Branson entertainment scene. Vahldick performed in some of Branson’s top music shows, but always felt that Silver Dollar City was his true love. Vahldick was a legendary entertainer, spending an amazing 51 years at the Silver Dollar City. Vahldick entertained at the SDC Saloon and as a member of the River Rats Dixieland Band. He later moved into entertainment production at SDC, producing some of the park’s well-known festivals such as World Fest, Harvest and Cowboy Festival, An Old Time Christmas, Bluegrass and BBQ, and others. Throughout his years in Branson and at Silver Dollar City, Vahldick made countless friends and entertained millions of visitors.

Bonnie Garrett’s greatest joy was organizing trips around the world for senior citizens. Many of those trips were here to Branson, with Garrett Travel Service, escorted by Bonnie and her husband Carl, and visiting Branson’s many shows and attractions. When Bonnie relocated to Branson, she continued her travel business for an additional 10 years, until the age of 88. Bonnie also enjoyed volunteering her time to help with Branson’s Veterans Week, held each November. Bonnie also served as an Ambassador for the Branson Chamber of Commerce and volunteered as part of the Branson Veterans Task Force. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these outstanding members of the Branson community. They will be greatly missed.