Juanita Jean (Huffman) Griggs was born December 11, 1934, the oldest of two daughters to Raymond and Vera Huffman of Hannibal, MO. She passed away on April 2, 2018. She lived in Hannibal as a child, graduating from Central Jr. High, Hannibal High, and later St. John's School of Nursing in St. Louis in 1956.
Nita married the love of her life, Roy L. Griggs at First Christian Church in Hannibal on September 23, 1956 � a marriage that lasted 50 years until Roy's death. She is survived by sister, Doris Ann Marks of Roanoke, VA; children, Stephen Griggs of Winston-Salem, NC and his wife Denise, and Martha Dickman of Tulsa, and her husband Scott. Grandchildren include: Travis and Trevor Griggs and Kit and Caroline Dickman.
Through the years, Nita worked as a nurse at Good Samaritan in Lexington, KY; Grace-New Haven in New Haven, CT; American Red Cross blood mobile in Jefferson City, MO, which included work at the Missouri State Penitentiary; Fulton State Hospital, Fulton, MO; and retired in the 1990s as a psychiatric nurse after 18 years from Shadow Mountain Institute in Tulsa. She was once described as having "an iron fist in a velvet glove" as she knew just how to guide troubled teens to get them back on the right path.
Nita was a member of PEO and was an active and devoted partner to Roy during his church ministries. They were a team and she found much joy in the role. When she wasn't participating in work or church activities, Nita spent her free time sewing, knitting, tole painting, traveling and gardening. Her greatest delight was spending time with her children and grandchildren and she compiled a significant number of photo albums that chronicled her blissful time with them.
A small family service to honor Nita will be scheduled in the future. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com