Obituary of Jerry Griffin

Services, with military honors, for Jerry Dewayne Griffin, Sr., 68, Arp, are scheduled for 3:00 pm, Wednesday, May 25 at the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home chapel, Overton, with the Reverend Tommy Harden officiating. Mr. Griffin died Saturday, May 21, 2011, in a Tyler hospital. He was born January 24, 1943, in Dallas to the late Gurney Lee Griffin and Fannie Rae Shortancy Griffin. He had been a resident of East Texas since 1968. Mr. Griffin was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving during the Vietnam War. He served aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Kearsarge, where on October 3, 1962, he participated in the recovery of Navy Commander Walter Shirra following his Mercury-Atlas 8 space flight. He was a longtime worker in the East Texas oil field employed by Sieber and Calicutt, Arp, Bobbitt Construction, Overton, GRAMCO, Henderson and Applied Consultants, Longview. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Larry Griffin, Rocky Griffin and Don Griffin and sisters, Billie Hart and Betty Jo Griffin. Mr. Griffin married Judi Riddle, April 26, 1964, in Rockwall. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Judi Griffin, Arp; sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry Dewayne 'Hank' Griffin, Jr. and Raejean Griffin and Jonathon Eugene 'Spud' Griffin and Reneé Griffin, all of Arp; a daughter and son-in-law, Rachel and David Chace, Henderson; a sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Ken Conoly, Dallas; grandchildren, Amanda, James and Pam, Hollie, Vincent and Jessica, Devin, Shawnna and Juan, Colton, Woodrow, Alexis, William, McKenzie, Brycen, and Kellie; great-grandchildren, Jaymon, Jaycen, Jordynn, Kayden and Addilyn; former daughter-in-law, Jessica Griffin; cousin, Bobbie Jean; and other nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm, Tuesday, May 24.