Mary Ella Griffiths, 87, Marshalltown (formerly Clemons)

Mary was born on February 2, 1937 in Marshalltown, IA, where she attended school and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1955. She was raised in Marshalltown with her sister, Ruth. Just a few months after finishing school, she married Joe Griffiths of State Center. They were set up on a blind date by their friends, Larry & Marlys Southard; their first date was a group date to The Latin King in Des Moines. During her senior year, Joe would sneak Mary out of school to spend the day with her while he delivered parts. After she graduated, Joe asked, “Well, how’d you like to be a farmer’s wife?” They said “I Do” on August 14, 1955, at First Methodist Church in Marshalltown. Mary spent many happy years on the farm near Clemons, watching her children grow. She became a mother in 1958 and would go on to have three children in total: John, Martha, & Timothy. She loved all of her kids dearly. She spent the years raising a family as a devoted farmer’s wife. She was well known for being an excellent cook, but she also did plenty of farm work herself; she could drive a tractor & a school bus when needed.

Mary was a devoted member of Hope United Methodist Church. She was blessed with great lifelong friends with whom she went on many adventures and shared lots of love. Mary took many trips with her classmates from high school throughout the years. She took countless trips with her family to the Lake of the Ozarks and Afton Alps; she loved skiing on both water and snow. They also shared many laughs with their Saturday card party group.

One of her greatest joys later in life was becoming a grandma. After years of begging her daughters-in-law, she finally became a grandma in 1994. She had four grandchildren in total, Emma, Katherine, Jacob & Jackson. She would tell her grandchildren, “You’re Grandma’s Honey.” Once Emma was old enough to talk, she started to call her “Grandma Honey”; the name stuck. She was happy to attend any and all events if any of her grandchildren were involved. Whenever they went anywhere, Joe always had to ask, “Mary, do you have your purse?”

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Joe Griffiths, her children John (Darla) Griffiths of Waukee, Marti Griffiths of Des Moines, and Tim (Trina) Griffiths of Marietta, Georgia, her grandchildren, Emma Griffiths of Des Moines, Katherine Griffiths of Atlanta, GA, Jacob (Amanda) Griffiths of Lakewood, CO, and Jackson Griffiths of Jacksonville, FL. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Richard Griffiths of Farmington, NM, and many nieces and nephews, who cared for greatly. She was preceded in death by her parents, John & Ruth, her sister and brother-in-law Ruth & Garol Cooling, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don & Mary Jean Sparks, and her sister-in-law Marty Griffiths.