Mary Gail Deaton Griffith

GRIFFITH, Mary Gail, age 82, a resident of Miamisburg, passed away on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at Hospice of Dayton, Ohio. She was born June 29, 1935 at home in Drexel, Ohio to the late Arnold “Duke” Deaton, and Esther Gail Deaton. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Bill J. Griffith; daughters, Melissa G. (David J.) Steiner, Melinda L. McDuffee, and Katherine A. (Richard K.) Brown; grandchildren, Dustin S. Gengler, Shaun S. Cox, Amanda G. Graham, Jesse L. Zamora, Rhys G. Powell, Kane G. Powell, and Rhianna G. G. Powell; sister, Cora L. (Walter C.) Steele and son-in-law, Jack Mitchell. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Rozanne Mitchell and brother, Robert E. (Marge) Deaton.

She was a 1953 graduate of Fairview High School in Dayton, Ohio and Crandon High School in Crandon, Wisconsin. She worked at Ohio Bell in Dayton, Ohio as a switchboard operator. Mary Gail served as assistant to the District President of the Ironworkers International Association, worked as an administrator at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and served as Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer of Ironworker Local #290, in Dayton, Ohio. Mary attended Sinclair Community College, and took art classes at the Dayton Art Institute and Gene Woods Art Gallery.

Mary Gail came from a family of artists, and she was a gifted artist in her own right. She painted with oil, acrylic and watercolor, on canvas, wood, rock, shells, tiles, ornaments, and greeting cards. Many have received and cherished her personalized Christmas and Birthday cards over the years.

She enjoyed reading, crocheting, crafting, sewing along with outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, boating, and gardening. Most of all she enjoyed her time with family and friends. She was a woman of great faith, having come into her relationship with God in 1968. From that point forward, Mary grew to become a prayer warrior and encourager to many. She attended Miamisburg Free Will Baptist Church, Miamisburg Assembly of God Church, The Branch of the Vine, and visited many others.

Family will receive guests form 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Monday, September 18, 2017 at GEBHART-SCHMIDT-PARRAMORE Funeral Home, Miamisburg. Funeral services will immediately follow at 12:00 pm, also at the funeral home and officiated by Pastors John Swint and Danny Griffith. Burial will take place at Heritage Hills Memory Gardens following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Feed the Children at P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101. Personal condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.gebhartschmidtparramore.com.