Aubrey Griffing, Sr

Aubrey Emille Griffing Sr. died of a stroke Thursday, May 28, 2009 at St. Dominic Hospital.\ \ Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Monday at Chancellor.\ \ The second son of Aubrey Lee and John Albert Griffing Sr., Mr. Griffing was born in Brownsville, Ms. and grew up roaming the countryside around Richland with a dog at his heels and mischief in his heart. He was a nature lover, arrowhead collector and avid deer hunter. \ \ After graduating from Florence High School at age 16, Mr. Griffing worked for the National Guard and was later a salesman for Kirby Vacuums and Prudential and Zurich Insurance companies. He also worked for St. Louis Terminal Field Warehousing.\ \ A gifted artist, woodworker and furniture craftsmen, Mr. Griffing eventually opened a home repair business. He often gifted friends and family with hand-carved stools, dough bowls and personalized cutting boards. \ \ Never one to keep an opinion to himself, Mr. Griffing was a talented writer who frequently fired off letters to the editor. (He even picketed the newspaper once, never mind that his son-in-law worked there.)\ \ Mr. Griffing met Claudine Martin while on a double date (she was not HIS date). They married two years later in November, 1952 and were constant companions for 57 years. And his care and concern helped his wife recover from serious health problems last year.\ \ A passionate family man, Mr. Griffing enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren on his farm in Star. And they will all sorely miss accompanying him on jaunts to the creek and garden.\ \ He was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, John Albert Griffing Jr. He is survived by his brother Charles Gerald Griffing, wife Claudine, sons Tony Griffing and Aubrey Emille Griffing Jr., daughter Susan Christensen and grandchildren Carlee Griffing, Emily Griffing, Zachary Griffing, Kelly Christensen and Marshall Christensen.\