E. Mercedes Griffith

Our mom was one very special woman inside and out! Very elegant and the world’s GREATEST MOTHER, Wife and Grandmother! Mom was born in San Antonio, NM. the daughter to the late Elvirez Gonzales and Maria Emilia Carmelita Chavez Gonzales. She was the beloved wife of the late John Archie Griffith, the sister to the late Angela Pricilla Gonzales and late Joseph E Gonzales.

Mom was passionate about three things in her life her love for her husband, for her family and for the love of See’s candies especially Peanut Crunch and Light Truffles. Most importantly she was well known and has been greatly missed by the staff at Grossmont Center La Mesa See’s location! Ahhhh If only mom had stock in See’s Candies…

Mom was world-renowned for her cooking too and we would sincerely love to hear our mom’s voice calling us to dinner just one more time from the window of our home saying Vickie, Kathy, Toni…. dinner! She really didn’t like cold food!

In high school within mom’s high school yearbook it states “That Dancing and collecting records kept mom busy!” Our mom was a professional dancer along with her sister Angela! They were known as the Gonzales sisters! Mom and Angie were professionally and classically trained by Eula Hoff and performed all over San Diego’s within the best ballrooms and dancing pavilions! From the Coronado Hotel to Art Linkletter, right along with Don Ward at the Starlight Bowl and Pacific Square Ballroom and with in San Diego early tv and radio station interviews too!

Mom’s yearbook also states to “Be a Good Wife! Our mom was the best wife and mother any one could ever EVER hope to have or dream to have! From PTA to Camp Fire Girls to Girl Scouts to singing popular nursery rhymes of Mares Eat Oats and Does Eat Oats to the McGuire Sister’s Sugartime, to attempting to heal our boo boo’s with the rhyme of Sana Sana Colita De Rana Si No Sana Hoy, Sanara Manana.

Mom like everyone else at a very young age met our dad at a party whom grandpa said she wasn’t supposed to be at! Mom went with mom’s gang called the “Kelly Street Chicks” all piled into a big convertible going to Red’s party! Later on when dad broke it off with mom (over not having any money to get mom a birthday gift) (mom was devastated) mom went to a movie with friends then... when the lights came back on dad was sitting right next to her! Ever since that night dad took a bus to see mom every single night thereafter! Can you believe taking a bus from 16THand imperial in Logan Heights to 465 Kelly St in Linda Vista and the rest is history….

As a young adult, mom graduated from Beauty College and opened up several beauty Salons through out San Diego called “The Hair Studio” to help in supporting her family! She always dressed all her girls in frilly dresses, with patent leather shoes and a purse to match, for special occasions. The photos are our treasures.

Mom is survived by her daughters Vickie Griffith (Son -in law-David) Mims, Katherine Griffith Darouie and Toni Griffith. She always dressed all her girls in frilly dresses, with patent leather shoes and a purse to match, for special occasions. The photos are our treasures.

She is also survived by her much beloved grandchildren John Mims, Michael Mims, Amanda Darouie, Alex Darouie, and Adam Darouie, and nine great grandchildren, and her her much beloved doggie companion Kola Darouie Griffith.

Mom was preceded in death by our much beloved dad, her loving husband Archie aka Arch as when mom use to call out for dad.

All loved her dearly and will never forget her elegance, charm, grace and undying love of family for her quote girls, and moms undying and unwavering love for her husband our dad!

She will be laid to rest next to her loving husband. We will miss her greatly!