Jarrell Griffin

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Jarrell D. Griffin, 73, of Sikeston died Friday, May 2, 2003, at Mesa General Hospital in Mesa, Ariz.

He was born July 1, 1929, in Enola, Ark., son of William Henry and Gladys Matthews Griffin. He and Lilly Faye Sitzes were married Dec. 22, 1951, in Sikeston.

Griffin had worked at Harwell Auto Parts, Crown Finance, Key Loan, and was a loan officer at Bank of Sikeston more than 30 years, retiring in 1995. The past five years he was an assistant funeral director at Blanchard Funeral Chapel.

He was a member of First Baptist Church and its Friendship Sunday School Class, served as an usher, trustee, was a former Sunday School teacher, and served on various committees.

Griffin was a member and past president of Sikeston Kiwanis, former member of Jaycees and Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Bankers Association, and was a Little League coach several years.

He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Doug Griffin of Sikeston, Garry Griffin of Parker, Colo.; two brothers, Shelby Griffin of Paragould, Ark., Wilbur Griffin of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters, Jonnie Glover of Modesto, Calif., Uvell Wright of San Bernardino, Calif.; a half brother, Carl Griffin of San Diego, Calif.; two half sisters, Pat Rister of Memphis, Tenn., Carolyn Linninger of Redondo Beach, Calif.; two stepbrothers, Ken Keirsey of Dexter, Mo., Harold Keirsey of California; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, a sister, stepmother, a stepbrother, and a stepsister.

Friends may call at First Baptist Church from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with Dr. Rick Ramsey, the Rev. David Jackson, and Mike Parker officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with full military rites by Missouri Military Honors Program.

Blanchard Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.