Jessie Huff Griffey

Jessie Huff Griffey, age 94, died on Monday November 9, 2020 attended by her son in her home in Grants, New Mexico. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and current restrictions in place in N.M. services will be scheduled at the First Baptist Church in Grants, N.M. at a later date.

She was born in Tamcliff, West Virginia on January 17, 1926 to Henderson Hence Huff and Mazey Ella Huff, the middle child and only girl in the family that included three surviving children. Jessie attended school at Tamcliff, W.V. and then later at Gilbert, W.V. When she was about 13 her mother became ill, so she dropped out of school after completing the 8th grade to help out at home. At age 15 she started working as hired help in various households. She did housework, laundry, cooking and cared for children. During WWII Jessie moved to Charleston, W.V. and went to work as a waitress. She had never been away from home and had never eaten in a restaurant. Charleston was a big adventure for her, and she loved it. When she was 14, she met a tall, dark, handsome man from Feds Creek, Kentucky named George Griffey. She communicated with him during the war and they later married on October 19, 1945 in Charleston. Following his discharge from the Army George went to work in a coal mine and they moved back to the Gilbert area. Their first child, a son named Jack, was born 10 months after they married. Jack was followed in quick succession by three daughters, Sandra, Sharon and Millie. All of the children were born at home and the doctor’s fee ranged from $25 to $35 per birth.

In 1959 the company George was working for closed and George and some others decided to leave West Virginia and strike out for New Mexico. He went to work in the uranium mines around Grants, NM and bought a mobile home for the family. Jessie and the children made the cross country move by train. Grants became their forever home. Both George and Jessie died in the last home that they bought. Jessie obtained her GED and took several classes at New Mexico State University. She held jobs as a waitress, grocery store cashier, bookkeeper for the local paper and bank teller. George passed away in 1985 from illness related to radiation exposure from working in the uranium mines. Jessie never remarried but she lived a full life. She taught herself to do home repairs, change the oil in her car, and take care of her lawn. She liked to travel and took cruises to Alaska and Hawaii; she enjoyed bus tours with a church group and made many trips back to her birth state of WV. She participated in the NM Senior Olympics as a swimmer and a member of the talent show. She was a County Fair prize-winning pie baker and volunteer tax preparer for low income and senior citizens.

George and Jessie had both become Christians at different points in their adult life. The church was very important to them. They formed many lifelong friendships within the church. Jessie served in various positions at the First Baptist Church in Grants including church treasurer, Sunday School, VBS and AWANA teacher. She sang in the choir and always volunteered to bring food whenever it was needed.

Survivors include her son: Jack (Elke) Griffey of New Braunfels, Texas; daughter: Sharon (Richard) Hill of Sturgis, South Dakota; daughter: Millie (Rhett) Bryson of Albuquerque, N.M.; and brother: Les Huff of Phoenix, Arizona; 10 grandchildren: Stephanie Andrews of Palm Harbor, Florida, Steve Griffey of Fair Oaks, Texas, Stacey Griffey of Greenville, North Carolina , Traci Carista of Lead, SD, Allison Ireland of Rapid City SD, Matt Simpson of Lebo, Kansas, Melissa Garcia of Grants, N.M., Jordan Kiser of Milford, Ohio, James Eaves of Stillwater, Minnesota and Justin Eaves of Billings, Montana and bonus granddaughter Ellen Morgan of New Braunfels, Texas; 22 great-grandchildren and five great great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Griffey was preceded in death by her parents: Hence and Mazey Huff; husband: George M. Griffey; daughter: Sandra Elaine Eaves of Spearfish, South Dakota; infant grandson: Jarred Kiser of Albuquerque, N.M.; and brother: Frank Huff of Port Huron, Michigan.

The family requests no flowers. If you wish to make a memorial contribution the family suggests a donation to First Baptist Church at 224 Mountain Road Grants, NM 87020 or to a charity of your choice.