It's been a year and we all miss you so much. March 24, 2014 was a beautiful spring day for remembering and sharing.  Thank you for reaching out to us in your own special way; we all appreciated your visits with us. Your message to Lee was probably the best advice: Love & Laugh.

We love you Dad!

Thank You Donna for sharing your family's journey,,   
HOW BEAUTIFUL! 
 It is nice to see the happy photos that honors your family. 
 HAPPY THOUGHTS CREATES HAPPY MOMENTS  
~ and know that you are loved ~
Martin Hull

Donna & Family,
"May God bless you and keep you in his care, now and in the days to come."

 It is still fresh in my mind as if yesterday,  remember the first time I met Fred, I was so nervous and it felt like my mouth was full of sand,  knees shaking,  Looking into those steel blue eyes, Military flat top hair cut I thought I was going to pass out.  I answered the questions with Yes Sir, no Sir. As time went on my knees finally stopped shaking and I realized the daunting task that was before me, for what was to come.   Before I realized it, the time had come for me to once again to stand in front of that Giant block of coal with steel blue eyes. As I drove the handful of the miles to the Griffiths house thinking how I was going to say those few words seemed to take forever. Finally arriving and walking into the kitchen there he was, standing at the end of the table and reading the paper.” What's on your mind young man”, he asked? I  barely could breathe, as I collected my thoughts up off  the floor I said “ Sir,  I've come to ask for your daughter's  hand in marriage”.  As he slowly folded the paper never looking up and said, “How do you expect to support my daughter?”   I hadn't even stop to think there would be questions. I said “hard work, Sir”.  As he looked up , I saw the corner of his mouth rise slightly as he looked into my soul with those steel blue eyes  And then spoke the words  I was hoping to hear,  “Yes you may”, as I said thank you sir and turned to leave, he said “ Call me Fred”. As the years flew by I started to see the blue in his eyes soften from the steel to sky blue and  cracks form in that block of coal making it more  transparent  to see the beauty  inside.
 Sitting by Fred's bedside I could still see the beautiful sky blue in his eyes, but as hard as I looked, I couldn't see any coal. The trip that Fred and I had taken took us over many mountains through many valleys crossing countless streams, and along the way catching a few fish. Fred was more than a Mentor, more, than a teacher, and more than a friend, even more than my Father in-law. Fred was my Dad most of all.    Now knowing that Fred accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior we will once pick up where we left off in the Kingdom of Heaven. I find it a honor not only to be a part of this family, but to be given time to break through that piece of coal to find what God  knew I  needed most,  a  Dad. See ya soon Dad.
With love
John

This time of reflection reveals the many lessons learned from Dad….
As a kid, his T-shirts make great PJs 
    (make do with what you have)
You gotta get all the weeds and grass out of the planter box
     (life isn't always fun but you gotta do what you gotta do)
You have to show me you can change a tire before you get your license
     (with rights and privileges come responsibilities)
Duct tape and barbed wire can fix anything
     (we all have our quirks!)
Early girl tomatoes will never let you down
    (gardening will bring unending joy)
The way Dad lived everyday
    (love and commitment are for a lifetime).
Thank you for all the lessons of love you poured into our lives and the lives of our boys.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.  Mr. Griffiths will always be remembered as a great teacher that touched many lives as we passed through his sixth grade classroom at Mirage Elementary.

Fred was a great uncle and awesome friend. He taught me many life lessons (from math, a honest days work, how to paint houses, etc...) and always was welcoming to myself and my family.  Fred was a great card player and I enjoyed his ability to have fun regardless of getting Trumped or allowing me to get Trumped. I will miss his laugh, smile, and collection of plastic cups!

Fred R. Griffiths
An inspirational 
Teacher and leader
Helping guide
Every student to
Reach for the stars,

FATHER, I will always look up to you!

Our fondest childhood memories are of springtime holidays and summer weekends at Uncle Fred and Aunt Shirley's happy home. Fred and Shirley made the sun filled days sweet memories for our lives. Fred's brilliant eyes, dancing with joy live fondly in our hearts.

What a wonderful friend and neighbor.  We will cherish all our memories of the times we shared.  You will be missed but your memory is in are heart forever.    Nancy and Sonny Schramm and family

Uncle Fred was a good, kind man whom I will remember fondly and often. Shirley, my thoughts are with you and the family, and I am deeply sorry I could not give my condolences in person.

Simple, down to earth, dignified but with a subtle sense of humor. That was the Fred Griffith I knew as a sixth grade teaching partner at Mirage Elementary during the last years of his career. He was a good man and a fine educator.

Our hearts go out to Freds family.  I pray your grieving gets easier and easier.  You all have some wonderful memories to last your lifetime.  That's what Fred would have wanted you to lean on.  Our deepest condolences to all of you.
John and Barbara Boston

A Man with an open heart and always an open door for you at his home. Whether at his pool or fishing Uncle Fred always made you feel heard and important even as a small child. You taught us well and no better Uncle than Uncle Fred. No better loving couple than Uncle Fred and Aunt Shirley. You will be missed !! Love, Russ & Gretchen Griffiths

My condolences to the family of Fred Griffiths.  He was one of my teachers at Glenn L. Downs Elementary in 1963-64.  I was in his classroom when he was called away for a few minutes and then came back with the news that President Kennedy had been shot...a day none of us will ever forget.  He was a wonderful teacher, and I had the pleasure of encountering him again many years later when I was a teacher and substituted at a school where he worked in Deer Valley.  He was the kind of teacher we all aspire to be, one who not only imparts knowledge, but one who touches the lives of his students in a positive way and encourages them to succeed.  RIP Mr. Griffiths.

Dad, I am most grateful for your long goodbye, and the time for our family to share and re-connect on a deeper level.  I am most honored to witness my mother's deep unending love and care for you; to learn from you both how to make the most of life each day even while dying.

No bond is as great as that between a parent and child.  Our deepest condolences are with you as you grieve.

OBITUARY

Frederick Rees Griffiths

May 4, 1934 – March 24, 2013

Phoenix Memorial Park & Mortuary

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