George Griffey

George Arthur Griffey was born in Tremont located in Harlan County, Kentucky, July 10, 1943. The son of Martha Gross and James Griffey, he was one of nine children the couple shared. He left this Earth peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones at 7:05 am Sunday morning, January 15, 2023, after a seven year battle with lung cancer.

George was an Airman First Class for the U.S. Air Force at Bergstrom Air Force base in Austin, Texas where he guarded President Johnson's plane and provided escort to and from his ranch. After the Air Force, he made his home in Mesquite, Texas. He was a master of all trades. In Texas, he worked for the City of Dallas at the water treatment plant in Sunnyvale; he worked as an electronic technician for Rockwell International; and owned an automotive air conditioner repair shop in Mesquite. In Kentucky, he worked with his brothers in construction, managed a convenience store, and was Sheriff in our small town in Loyall, Kentucky. After he retired, he drove a school bus part-time for the Mesquite Independent School District. His hobbies were playing bluegrass music, camping, hunting, going to Starbucks, oh how he loved his coffee, he loved to type up his opinions on a variety of subjects for a journal he was keeping, and loved to take day trips to Oklahoma to play the slots.

George is preceded in death and ushered into the afterlife by his beloved mother and father, his sister, Mary Belle Baker, and his six brothers, Henry Lawrence; Morgan; James Marvin; Kenneth; Dewey; and Ronald Lee.

George is survived by his soul mate and wife of 58 years, his "sweetie" Elida Griffey. Their only daughter Leslie Swinson, son-in-law, Alan Swinson, grandchildren Lindsay Felty and her spouse, Andy, Andrew Swinson and his spouse, Carley as well as two great grandchildren- Lydia and Lucille, his brother Arnold Gene Griffey and a slew of beloved and extensive in laws.

He will be remembered for his unwavering love of his family, his hysterical stubbornness and inspiring us all to just speak our minds. To honor him, we ask you to listen to your favorite songs, drink a well made cup of coffee and enjoy the simple things in life.

A small visitation will be held Thursday, January 19th from 6-8 pm at New Hope Funeral Home in Sunnyvale, TX . His burial will take place Friday morning at 11:15 am at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery in 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, Texas.