- Date Of Birth: December 17, 1927
- Date Of Death: December 11, 2017
- State: Nebraska
Mary Lou (Smith) Griffith the daughter of Charles M. and Marie M. (Ellis) Smith was born December 17, 1927 at Esbon, Kansas. She departed this life on Monday, December 11, 2017 at the Smith Center Health & Rehab. Center in Smith Center, Kansas at the age of 89 years.
At the age of 11 Mary Lou lived with her maternal grandparents, Ed and Nellie Ellis in Esbon, KS where she grew up to adulthood. Mary Lou graduated from Esbon High School with the class of 1947.
Mary Lou was united in marriage to Raymond C. Griffith on February 1, 1947 in Smith Center, Kansas. Together they raised three children, Elaine Marie; Raymond Charles and Janet Lee. In 1957 her brother Patrick moved in with Raymond and Mary Lou in order to finish his high school education. In high school she began working at the local cafe. She helped Raymond with their trucking business Griffith Transport, from doing bookwork, taking orders and dispatching loads. She began collecting antiques and going to auctions. She liked collecting Indian artifacts and would go out in the country to search for arrowheads and pottery pieces. In later years she became interested in local history and helped write and publish a book commemorating the first 100 years of Esbon. Later on she and Raymond purchased a farm and would take daily drives and watch for wildlife. The couple also traveled to several locations including: Maine; California; and a cruise to Alaska for their 50th anniversary. Until Mary Lou lost partial eyesight 10 year ago, she would help shut-ins with shopping and errands and driving them to different appointments.
She always wanted to help others. In her memory we ask everyone to pay it forward, with every chance you get.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Raymond; sisters: June, Rose Marie, Betty Dorothy, Nellie Marie, Ruth Maxine and brother George.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Elaine Love and husband George of Cheyenne, WY; son Raymond Griffith and wife Sonja of McPherson, KS; daughter Janet Griffith and Chris Jones of Smith Center, Kansas; brother, Patrick and wife LaNeta Smith of Beloit, Kansas. Also grandchildren: Stephen Love and wife Marci; Tabatha Deines and husband Tim; Scott Love; Gabe Griffith (Chelsea); step grandchildren: Katrisha Henry and husband Brent; Tiffany Wedel; and Jeri Lyn Love (Dennis’s widow); Tyler Dingman; 10 great grandchildren: Jordan Wilson; Storm Lyn Love; Sara Love; Austin Love; Nolan Love; James Love; Morgan Love; Stephen Love Jr; Katelyn Deines; other relatives and a host of friends.
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska 68970
402-746-2500
