Patricia W. "Pat" Griffiths

1937 - 2024

Patricia "Pat" W. Griffiths

1937 ~ 2024

- PATRICIA "PAT" GRIFFITHS

MURRAY, Utah – Born Mildred Patricia Wilcock, our beloved Mother, Grammy, Gigi, and friend, age 86, died on January 23, 2024, 30 years and one day following the death of our dear father, Judge LeRoy "Lee" H Griffiths, and of the same disease that took him, chronic obstructive pulmonary fibrosis.

Pat was born June 8, 1937, the daughter of John Elmer Wilcock and Mildred Geneva Green Wilcock, in North Creek, Beaver County, Utah, in the home of her maternal grandmother. Pat learned a strong work ethic from her parents and found playing the piano for the local ballet studio gave her some financial independence. Days after graduating from Milford High School as the valedictorian of the Class of 1955, Pat married her high school sweetheart "Roy" Griffiths, on her 18th birthday, June 8, 1955, in the St. George Temple. They enjoyed a beautiful and loving marriage and partnership until Lee died on January 22, 1994. Pat is survived by three of her four children, Cheryl Ann (David) Hunter, Abe Douglas (Sue) Griffiths, and Debra Gayle Griffiths Handley; six grandchildren, Emilee Hunter (Danny) Follett, Spencer (Amy) Hunter, Abe Slater (Andre Washington) Griffiths, Benjamin Griffiths, Clare Handley, and Colin Handley; and four great grandsons, Andrew Follett, Peter Follett, William Hunter and Henry Hunter.

Pat devoted her life to the service of others, her family, church, and community. She supported Lee as he pursued and received accounting and law degrees from the University of Utah. She also received the much-deserved PHT (L.S.), Magna Cum Labore ("Put Hubby Through (Law School)"), from the U of U College of Law's Board of Trustees in 1959.

Pat and Lee settled in Murray to raise their family and conduct Lee's law practice where Pat was Lee's first (and only) legal secretary, a role she fulfilled until he was appointed to the bench in 1970. Pat worked for and retired as an executive administrative assistant for the Utah Education Association where she made lifelong friends.

Following Lee's death, and her subsequent retirement from UEA, Pat courageously picked up where he left off by serving the community they loved on the Murray City Board of Adjustments, Planning & Zoning Commission, and culminating in eight successful years as a member of the Murray City Council where she ran unopposed in her second term. She joined many of Lee's friends when she became a member of the Murray Rotary Club and contributed to numerous worthy causes. Her philanthropic acts and work as a statesperson led to her being awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award, Rotary International's highest recognition.

She also served on the Deseret Foundation's AMICUS Board of Directors, whose aim was to promote quality healthcare by raising funds and awareness for Intermountain Healthcare's Research and Medical Foundation. After many years of service to AMICUS, she was awarded its top honor, the Golden Caduceus Award, in 2010.

In 2021, after living in Murray for over 60 years, Pat moved to the Legacy Village in Sugarhouse where she quickly made friends and ultimately called "the Village" home. Pat's family would like to give special thanks to the management and staff at Legacy Village for their kind and respectful care of Pat during her last days.

Pat was fun, witty, keen, fiercely loyal, loving and generous, encouraging her children and grandchildren to aim high. She had a green thumb and was an amazing cook. She played the piano beautifully throughout her life and, even during her last years of life, she was often called on to play for choirs and soloists because of her unique abilities as a skilled accompanist. Despite the serious health issues that undermined her physically, she endured the last decade of her life with grace, courage and dignity.

Pat was a valiant and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, including Stake Primary President and Stake Relief Society President. She was humble, faithful, and always acknowledged God's hand in her life.

Pat will be missed immensely by all that knew her, but her family rejoices in her sweet reunion with her sweetheart Lee, her daughter Gerri, her dogs Brandie and Alta and many other loved ones. Pat is preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Gerri Lee Griffiths Martin, her parents and siblings John Wilcock and Judith Wilcock Workman.

Friends and family may gather for a viewing on Sunday, January 28, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah. There will also be a brief viewing on Monday, January 29, 2024, from 10:00-10:45 a.m., before her funeral service at the Murray First Ward, 755 E. Three Fountains Circle, Murray, Utah. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the Milford City Cemetery, Milford, Utah, at approximately 4:00 p.m.