GRIFFIN, Mary Belle

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Mary Belle “Haggard” Griffin passed away July 15. She was born July 14, 1928. Mary Belle was proceeded in death by her parents Roy and Bird Haggard and her brother Jesse Haggard, all of Oklahoma. She was raised during the hard years of the Great Depression in the “Dust Bowl” of Oklahoma and saw many rough years and often shared many stories of surviving that era. She met Marion Delos “Bud” Griffin, and they were married Nov. 30, 1946. Bud became a general contractor, and together they built many homes and eventually moved from Yukon, Okla., to Riverside, Calif., in 1953 where they continued in the building business and raising their family. She is survived by their three children: Marion “Dwight” and his wife Gail Griffin of Roseburg, Ore.; Medina ”Darlene” Jolly and her husband Ron of Rescue, Calif.; and Mary Elaine Morgan of Riverside, Calif. A beloved grandmother, she left six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, as well as an Icelandic “exchange” student and her family who reside in Iceland. In November of 1981, Mary Belle and Bud moved to Aguila and built their last home together at Eagle Roost. Mary Belle was a widow for 16 years after she lost Bud to Lou Gehrig’s disease in February of 1998. In 2001, she moved to Wickenburg, where she made a wonderful life close to a loving church family and many friends until her move in December of 2013 when she spent her last months in Roseburg, Ore., to be near some of her family. She was passionate about her love for the Lord and her love for our country. Mary Belle was known for her love of her Bible and diligence to prayer. She found great joy when working in her garden, doing craft projects, cooking, and had a reputation for being a wonderful seamstress and artist. Her hands were never idle. She was forever dreaming of projects she could make to share with others. She never seemed to have enough time to do the many things she wanted to get done. She was a wonderful example of a Proverbs 31 woman. We are sad to lose our mother/grandmother/friend but know that she is finally where she has longed to be. She will be laid to rest at the Oak Creek Cemetery, about 10 miles east of Roseburg.