Nola Pitcher Griffin

Nola Pitcher Griffin died peacefully Monday, August 22, 2011, while staying with her daughter, LuAnn, in Murray, Utah. Nola was born October 2nd, 1930 in Nibley Utah to Melvin Bernard and Ellen Monica Cummings Pitcher. She lived her first four years with her parents in Cornish at her Grandparents house, surrounded by aunts, uncles & cousins. She remembered riding the train to Nibley to see her Cummings grandparents. Family was always very important to her.
When Nola was four, her family purchased a farm in Lewiston, Utah. She helped her dad on the farm and played with her sister, Beth and her brother, Boyce. She also learned to carry a part and sang trios with her mother and brother at social events. She especially remembered singing patriotic songs for the "boys" who were leaving Lewiston to serve in World War II. Singing was a big part of her life. For many years, she sang in a trio with friends. She also taught her children to sing and they took up the tradition of singing at church and community gatherings.
Nola lived in Lewiston until her marriage to Glen Lyle Griffin on March 3, 1947. They moved to Trenton, Utah, and lived there most of their married lives. The first years were spent farming, where Nola worked alongside Glen. Then Glen took a job with the Fuller Brush Company. Again, Nola worked with him. She drove many miles in southern Idaho with her children to deliver the products Glen sold.
The things Nola loved most were her husband and family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. She taught the young Sunday School class as a teenager and was the Junior Primary chorister as a newlywed. Her children remember her leading the music in primary as they sang. They remember her as an MIA leader, going to Tuesday lessons and activities with them, and as a member of the Stake YMMIA Presidency. They remember her as the Relief Society Presidency. She and Glen taught family history classes. She also served as Gospel Doctrine Teacher, primary teacher, beehive teacher, Stake Beekeeper, and as the ward cooking specialist. She spent many hours sewing beautiful clothes for her family.
She is survived by a sister, Beth Gary Wheeler of Lewiston serving in the Tennessee Nashville Mission; 9 children: Cleon Griffin of Clarkston, Janet Edward Cottle of Trenton, Arlene Larry Larson of Richmond serving in the Toulouse France Mission, LuAnn Martin Coon of Murray, Tami Tim Johnson of Benson, Barbara Griffin of North Logan, Ellen Douglas Williams of West Jordan, Saralyn Griffin of North Logan, & Matt Crystal Griffin of Rexburg, Idaho; 35 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen Griffin; her parents, Melvin and Mon Pitcher; her brother and sister-in-law, Boyce and Neva Pitcher; a daughter-in-law, Dawnetta Beckstead Griffin; grand-daughters, Rebecca Cottle, Sharla Griffin and Catherine Griffin; and one great-granddaughter, Kiersti Ludwinski.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Home. Services will be held Saturday, August 27th, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Trenton Ward Chapel. A viewing will be held at the same location from 9:30 – 10:30 on the same day. Friends may call from 6 – 8 pm, Friday at Nelson Funeral Home of Smithfield.