Russell L. Griggs
November 18, 1914 — November 16, 2008
Russell Lowell Griggs was born on November 18, 1914 near Washington, Iowa. He was one of five children born to Dewitt and Annie (Weaver) Griggs. He attended school in Washington and graduated from high school in 1932. After graduation he began his lifelong career as a beekeeper, collecting and selling honey.
Russell was united in marriage to Mary McMillen on February 15, 1938 at the Methodist Church in Washington, Iowa. They were the parents of three children: Randall, Janet and James. Russell and Mary moved to Hancock, Iowa in 1938. They processed Griggs Honey at the Hancock Honey House on Main Street and had a retail honey stand in front of their home in Hancock until they retired in 1977. Russell served as the Mayor of Hancock for two terms. He also worked part time on bridge construction. After retiring they spent their winters in Florida starting in 1978. Russell enjoyed playing cards, especially pinochle. They were members of a camping club and also the Hancock United Methodist Church. Russell and Mary moved to Ellisville, Missouri in 2004.
Russell died on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He had attained the age of ninety-three years, eleven months and twenty-nine days. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son James; his brothers, Armour and Orville Griggs and by his sister, Oneita Fisher.
Russell is survived by his wife Mary of Ellisville, Missouri; son Randall and his wife Jeanie of Louisville, Kentucky; daughter Janet Sloey and her husband A. Michael of Manchester, Missouri; nine grandchildren; five great grandchildren with two on the way; a brother Duane Griggs and his wife Ruth Ann of Burlington, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 1:30 PM at the Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa with Pastor Melissa Drake as the clergy. Serving as Honorary bearers were Bob Jacobsen, Cletus Gress and Wylie King with Steve Guyer, Don Scheffler, Kenneth Martin, Lynn Grobe, Lance Guyer and Scott Griggs as active bearers. Interment was held in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Hancock, Iowa.
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Russell was united in marriage to Mary McMillen on February 15, 1938 at the Methodist Church in Washington, Iowa. They were the parents of three children: Randall, Janet and James. Russell and Mary moved to Hancock, Iowa in 1938. They processed Griggs Honey at the Hancock Honey House on Main Street and had a retail honey stand in front of their home in Hancock until they retired in 1977. Russell served as the Mayor of Hancock for two terms. He also worked part time on bridge construction. After retiring they spent their winters in Florida starting in 1978. Russell enjoyed playing cards, especially pinochle. They were members of a camping club and also the Hancock United Methodist Church. Russell and Mary moved to Ellisville, Missouri in 2004.
Russell died on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He had attained the age of ninety-three years, eleven months and twenty-nine days. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son James; his brothers, Armour and Orville Griggs and by his sister, Oneita Fisher.
Russell is survived by his wife Mary of Ellisville, Missouri; son Randall and his wife Jeanie of Louisville, Kentucky; daughter Janet Sloey and her husband A. Michael of Manchester, Missouri; nine grandchildren; five great grandchildren with two on the way; a brother Duane Griggs and his wife Ruth Ann of Burlington, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 1:30 PM at the Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa with Pastor Melissa Drake as the clergy. Serving as Honorary bearers were Bob Jacobsen, Cletus Gress and Wylie King with Steve Guyer, Don Scheffler, Kenneth Martin, Lynn Grobe, Lance Guyer and Scott Griggs as active bearers. Interment was held in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Hancock, Iowa.
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