Jackie Thomas Griffin

1945 - 2021

Jackie Thomas Griffin
Jackie Thomas Griffin, "Jack" passed away peacefully at his home on April 10, 2021. He was born on July 2, 1945 at the Katy Hospital in Denison, Texas to parents Forrest and Wavana "Vana" (Littlefield) Griffin. One of Jack's favorite sayings was "My mom said I was so bright she always called me son." Jack had one brother, Robbie, who was two years his elder. The Griffin family moved first to Whitesboro in 1953, then to Izoro TX, a town consisting of just the four of them who owned and operated the town's combination post office, grocery, feed store, and gas station. The Griffins moved back to Denison in 1961 where Jack graduated from Denison High School in 1963.
Jack was employed at Johns-Manville from 1963 to 1967, when he decided he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps in law enforcement. He graduated from the Texas State Highway Patrol Academy in June 1967 and began his career as a Texas State Trooper in July 1967 in Marshall TX (Harrison County) and Farmersville (Collin County). Jack transferred his career and budding family to Sherman in 1970 where he spent the rest of his career as a Highway Patrolman, retiring in August 1995.
Upon retirement from his first career, Jack took an epic motorcycle ride – a 6-week trip to Alaska that covered most of North America. He set out from Texas alone on his Honda Goldwing, first to the Florida Keyes, up along the East Coast, all the way across Canada then up the Alaskan highway, only to return to Texas by way of the West Coast highways. After boredom set in, Jack returned to a 2nd career in law-enforcement as campus police at Grayson County College, then as a Bailiff for the 59th Court under Judges Perkins and Nall. In 2003 Jack retired from Grayson County and then was offered the job as first and last City Marshal of Denison since the 1860s. Jack finally "officially" retired in 2010, then invested his time as a wonderful grandfather and a caretaker for "The Barn" in Bells, TX. There was never a dull when Jack was around.
Jack was an avid weightlifter. He began lifting hay bales at the age of 12, and often found this discipline helpful during his many years in law enforcement. He also holds several World and State weightlifting titles from different federations. He competed many times in the Can-Am Police Games, Texas Police Games, and Fire & Police Games – always bringing home medals, trophies, and awards. He loved riding motorcycles, loved people, and never met a stranger. Many former Yellow Jacket football players would recall Jack "PeePaw" opening his home for pancake nights when grandsons Rex and Robert were playing football. What started as a few players grew into a weekly gathering involving multiple griddles, pounds of bacon and gallons of pancake mix.
Jack became a Christian at age 10. He was a long-time member of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Denison, and later First Baptist Church of Denison, where he assisted his wife Terry from 2008 – 2014 with the Senior Adult Ministries. Jack currently attends Red River Cowboy Church in Denison. Jack departed to his Heavenly home where he was reunited with his brother who he hasn't seen in 58 years, parents, family and friends who passed before, as well as his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who we all know met him at the Gates with arms open and ears ready for his jokes.
Jack is survived by his loving bride for almost 35 years, Terry (Phillips) Griffin, five daughters: Robin (Russell) Petty of Denison, Rhonda (Terry) Gregory of Denison, Misty (Scott) Ward of Medway MA, Kristen (Tim) Stone of Sugar Land TX, Renee (Phillip) Griffin Killerlain of Denison. Nine grandchildren: Grant, Rex, Robert, Shaylee, Andrew, Kellan, Rily, Avery, Mason and one more on the way expected to arrive in June, Lanie. Five great-grandchildren: Anderson, Lexie, Madeline, Lincoln and Dax.
Family visitation will be held at Fisher Funeral Home in Denison, Wednesday April 14, 2021 from 5-8pm. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 15th at 12 o'clock noon at the Red River Cowboy Church in Denison, located ¼ mile west of 75 on 691 in Denison. Take exit 65 to 691. He literally has a map of the US and beyond imprinted in his head that he will always tell you the fun places to stop and the highway to take to get there. Internment to follow at Cedarlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Denison. Pallbearers for the service are Russell Petty, Scott Ward, Tim Stone, Phillip Killerlain, Rex Petty and Robert Petty. Honorary Pallbearers are Terry Phillips and Grant Rainey.