Dan Harrell Griffin

My Daddy, Dan H. Griffin of Edmond and Oklahoma City, OK. Posting his obituary here at Father's Day, along with a few comments made by minister at Daddy's funeral.

DAN HARRELL GRIFFIN, 85, died Thursday, September 30, 1993, at Edmond. He was born before statehood at Edmond, OK, October 26, 1907, oldest son of early settlers of Oklahoma Territory, Charlie and Hattie Griffin. He was preceded in death by brothers, Forrest Lynn (Jiggs) Griffin and Charles Warren (Chick) Griffin, an wife of 55 years, Bess Eloise Avera Griffin.

(I have edited out list of living descendants: Three daughters, one son; nine grandchildren; and now fifteen great grandchildren.)

Mr. Griffin’'s mother, Hattie McGill, was an 89er, daughter of Daniel Patrick McGill, who staked a claim at Deer Creek during the Run of '‘89. Paternal grandmother, Lizzie Terry Griffin, and family settled near Edmond in 1890. He grew up in Edmond and in Cotton County, graduating from Normal Highschool in Edmond, and then from Central State Teachers’ College in Edmond in 1932, with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. For nearly 14 years, he traveled throughout several states working for Phillips Petroleum Co. on seismograph drilling crews. With the establishment of Griffin Drilling Co. in 1946, he and his family returned to Edmond, then to Oklahoma City in 1950. He was always personally involved with every phase of the family business even after retirement and to the final weeks of his life.

He was a member of Edmond Masonic Lodge, #37, Scottish Rite Consistory in Guthrie, and a member of the India Temple Shrine in Oklahoma City. He was an avid sports fan, bird watcher, flower gardener, photographer, and constant student of every type of earth and natural science, geography and history. Sharing these loves with his family, he had traveled to 41 states, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba.

During the past few months he was a resident of Teal Ridge Retirement Community at Edmond where he will be missed by many friends.

Services will be Monday, October 4, at 10:30 a.m. Baggerly Funeral Home in Edmond, with burial at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Notes from Minister for Dan Griffin's funeral:
Dan... Grandaddy
Determined, persevering, integrity, never a quitter, his word was his bond.
Always interesting and interested, more to learn.
Natural teacher, knew much information.
Telling the young guide, and the tour crowd, in Capitol rotunda about the acoustic bounce.
When he took kids on vacation, it was "industry on Parade", touring factories, dams, etc.
Explaining scientific principles to family.
Multi-faceted, world class student of everything.
Wanted everyone to learn how to do well.
For brief period, a wealthy man, but not very materialistic.
Told future son in law: "Don't marry ___ for my money, I intend to spend it all."
But he didn't ---Generous man.
As a husband, he was the Boss.
As a father, the authority.
As a father in law, a role model and an affirming and generous man.
As a boss, all business to employess, but made lasting friendships with many.
As a Grand Daddy, lively and fun, showing you how to do it. Wanted the grandchildren busy.
OU fan - big time - red jacket - football and basketball.
Type A personality behind wheel of a car.
Taught sharing and giving, very practical. Always picked up the check.
Mad a bird trap (for birds he didn't want in his yard). Took them away opened trunk and bluejays and sparrows flew. Leaving the birds he loved and fed, watching from his office window.
Word person, oral and written communication. Frustration in later years when a stroke left him with problems of communication.
Enjoyed life, did what he wanted to do, was finished.

Miss you, Daddy.

Gt. Grandmother Lizzie Terry Griffin

We have found the obituary of our Great Grandmother, Lizzie Griffin, mother of Charley who was posted yesterday.
Edmond Oklahoma Newspaper.
Biography, Mrs. Lizzie Griffin
Elizabeth Ann Terry was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, January 21 1849 [incorrect, 1850] and departed this life Monday morning, March 20, at the age of 90 years and 2 months, after an illness of two weeks.

Her parents, William and Charlotte Terry, came to America from London, England, in 1848, and settled in Milwaukee. In 1850 they moved to Chicago, where they lived for a short time, later moving to a farm near Decatur, Illinois, where she, with her nine brothers and sisters grew to maturity. In 1869, the family moved west, locating near Independence, Kansas. At this place, she met and married Samuel Young Griffin, October 9, 1873. To this union, 7 children were born, two daughters, Mata, who died in infancy, and Clara, who died in 1918, and 5 sons, who survive her. The husband, a Union Soldier in the Civil War, died October 2, 1891. The widow, with a family of six children, ranging in ages from two to seventeen, seeing a better opportunity in a new country, moved to Oklahoma in 1892, locating on a farm ten miles north of Edmond. In 1899, in order that she might educate her children, she moved to Edmond, where she lived until her death.

A wonderful home-maker and mother, Mrs. Griffin yet found much time to devote to her church, which she loved with an abiding love. In 1898, while living in the country, she helped found and was a charter member of Bethel church. During her years spent in Edmond, she was a devout member of the Methodist church, as active in the Home Missionary Society, the W.C.T.U., and the Ladies' Aid. She taught a Sunday School class for forty years continuously. Her well marked, worn Bible was a daily companion, and in later years, when she was unable to read its words, she could repeat them lovely from memory. She had an unusual gift for friendship and love for humanity, and none came to her for help without receiving it.

She is survived by her five sons: Harry L., Charles W., Ira D., Elmer E., all of Edmond, and Floyd F. of Portland, Oregon, also fourteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to our many friends and neighbors for their kind expressions of sympathy and beautiful floral offering during the illness and death of our beloved mother and grandmother. THE GRIFFIN FAMILY
_________________________________________________________

"Speaking Personally" article by D.B.W. in an Edmond Newspaper.
" MRS. LIZZIE GRIFFIN...
In 1892 a widowed mother with six children, ranging in age from two to seventeen years, moved to Oklahoma and settled on a farm ten miles northwest of Edmond.

Old timers recall the hardships that confronted a family with an able bodied father to fend for it. The drouths, the lack of any modern facilities, all of which points to the fearless, sturdy qualities of this mother who so bravely faced what the future had in store for her and her brood in this new land of opportunity.

This week saw that pioneer mother pass to her final reward, and hundreds of friends gathered to pay their final tributes of respect to Mrs. Lizzie Griffin, who, having rounded out her ninetieth year of helpful and inspiring living, gently left this earthly life.

I have known this mother since my early boyhood. I know full well the respect which all held for her, and I hold with deep reverence the high ideals which she ever kept before herself and her family.

Five stalwart sons are truly monuments to her life. They are all men who command the respect of their friends, and I think that no greater tribute can be paid any mother than such a contribution to her country.

Women of her ilk are fast traveling the valley of death, and a few more years will see the true pioneer mothers only a memory to us. But we can always hold their memories close to our hearts .... for they bore their young and reared them righteously and fearlessly."