Season 19 of Sister Wives continues to follow the Brown family as they cope with the grief of losing Janelle and Kody Brown’s son, Garrison Brown, who passed away suddenly in March 2024. In the May 18th episode, Kody and his remaining wife, Robyn Brown, and his former wives— Janelle, Christine Brown Woolley, and Meri Brown — come together with their children to lay Garrison to rest in Wyoming.

The episode was filled with emotion from start to finish, as viewers watched the Browns put their differences and long-standing feuds aside to honor Garrison’s memory before they lay his ashes to rest next to Janelle’s mother. In the previous episode, Janelle shared that she chose this specific location because of the Brown family’s “deep roots in Wyoming.”

Sister Wives Kody Brown Decides to Dig Son Garrison Brown’s Grave In Latest Episode

On the May 18th episode of Sister Wives Season 19 titled, “He Heals the Brokenhearted,” the entire family is in Wyoming to lay Garrison Brown to rest in a family plot next to his grandmother, Cheryl — Janelle Brown’s mother. It’s the first time the entire Brown family has come together since their deep divisions and Kody’s separation from three of his four wives. But before viewers see the family together at the burial site, Kody shares his desire to dig his son’s grave.

Kody shared that he spoke to the cemetery’s sexton for permission to dig the grave for his son. For Kody, it was an emotional and symbolic gesture that he had to do before he and the family lay Garrison to rest.

“I just asked him permission if I could dig it,” he shared. “It means something to me. I don’t know why. It’s something deeply emotional.”

In a confessional, Kody shared why digging his son’s grave was necessary. “I’ve never done anything like this, digging a grave,” Kody told producers. “I think this is one of the most important things I’ve ever done. It’s the last ode to my boy.”

Despite Kody and Janelle being at odds with one another, she thought that it was also a very good idea. “I thought it was perfect. I think it’s symbolic and poetic and all the things to have Kody dig that hole,” she told the cameras.

With the help of Kody’s brother, Scott, and his brother-in-law, Tim, who had “nurtured” Garrison “into maturity,” they begin to dig Garrison’s grave.

The Entire Brown Family Come Together To Bury Garrison In The Tear-Filled Episode

In the same episode, viewers watched as the entire Brown family came together to lay Garrison to rest and say their farewells at Penrose Cemetery. The Browns had asked that the cameras keep their distance as they all gathered around Garrison’s grave. Cameras captured as Janelle held her son’s urn, which was customly made by Garrison’s brother-in-law, Mitch Thompson, into a Viking ship. She proceeds to hand it to Kody, who then lays Garrison’s urn into the ground.

Speaking about that moment, Janelle shared, “I feel the weight of the urn as I lift it and I’m like, ‘OK.’ And I feel like there’s some symbolism in me handing him to Kody. And even though Kody and I have our big differences, in that moment, we were just parents.'”

During the service, Kody’s brother-in-law, Tim, who prepared a statement, wore a Hawaiian shirt, explaining that it was in nod to Garrison’s “little business he wanted to start called Bob’s Floral.” His touching statement read:

“We’re always going to find a way to find humor, and we’re going to enjoy life,” Tim continued. “None of us, except for a mother who’s had this set of events, will understand a mother’s anguish. None of us, except a father who’s been in this circumstance, will understand a father’s remorse.”

“On the other hand, in time, a mother will understand only a mother’s joy, a father will only understand a father’s pride. And this mortality is about learning how to embrace both sides of the experience.”

Tim then asked the entire family to take off their shoes and socks, which wasn’t “a fundamentalist Mormon thing,” according to Kody. He added that “Garrison would have it with your bare feet on the soil.”

The family exchanged fond memories with Garrison as others brought items to put in the grave that reminded them of Garrison, including Paedon Brown placing his military tags in the grave. Kody also shared a dream he had of his son. In an extremely heartfelt moment, Garrison’s brother, Hunter Brown, breaks down in tears as he shares a special tribute to his brother:

“Garrison was my playmate. He was my bunkmate for all of my life. He was my arch nemesis and my best friend and blood brother,” he continued. “… Garrison was my first salute as a commissioned officer, and this was my hat that I got my first salute from Garrison in.”

Speaking to the cameras, Janelle shared, “He’s finally here. He’s finally at rest. It’s finished. This part of the journey is finished.”

Janelle Brown Believed Her Son’s Death Brought The Family Closer Together Despite Ongoing Tensions

In the previous episode, Janelle reflects on her son’s untimely passing, believing that it has brought a measure of healing to the fractured family.

Tensions had long simmered between Kody and his former wives—Janelle, Christine, and Meri—who each chose to separate from him. The rift stemmed from a range of issues, including financial disputes and accusations of favoritism toward Robyn and her children. These conflicts not only led the women to cut ties with Kody but also caused several of his children to distance themselves from him.

In the May 11th episode, titled, “Blessed Are Those Who Mourn,” Janelle tells the cameras that all of these issues were put aside because of her son, Garrison.

“Garrison’s death has brought about a lot some healing of relationships, which has been good. Despite all of the flaws and problems that the adults had, we raised these kids that really do feel like they were siblings,” she shared. Janelle added, “That was our biggest goal because a lot of plural families raised them as separate households Sometimes they don’t even have anything to do with each other, but we really, really set out to make them siblings. I think we’ve been successful.”

Meri also touched upon Garrison’s death bringing the family together. In a tearful confessional she shares, “Everybody was together, except for one. And it took him passing to get everybody together and that is just heartbreaking. But also, that’s so like Garrison.”

However, fans did notice that Kody kept his distance from Janelle, Christine and Meri when they were together to honor Garrison as they laid him to rest.