Son of George Griffin & Susie Everton, married Ruth Gray 6 Sept 1931 in Grants Pass.
-----------------------
Paid Political Advertisement, date unknown
---To The Voters of Josephine County---
I am a candidate for the Republican nomination to the office of County Assessor.
I have become a candidate because I sincerely believe that I am qualified for the position. I feel that my experience and observations during the past 10-1/2 years as an employee in the assessor's office place me in a position to bring about some much needed changes, with a minimum of expense and delay if, by your vote, I shall be entrusted with the responsibility for future management of this office.
My candidacy is the result of my own deliberate action and I very definitely do not have any "understanding" or reciprocal agreements with any person or persons. I believe that the public is entitled to efficiency, and responsibility, not only in its elected officials but also in the help which these officials may hire. I firmly believe that the first obligation of any public official is to the public which he serves. I stand committed to this statement regardless of the outcome of the approaching election.
There is nothing in either my public record or my qualifications which I shall not be pleased to have thoroughy investigated.
I hope that I may merit your confidence and support in this campaign and in the following election.
Thank you.
MERLE E. GRIFFIN
-------------------------------------------
Uncle Merle was successful in his bid to become Josephine County Assessor, and held that position for many years.
-------------------------
Canby Herald, Weekday Edition, February 11, 2004
Merle Everton Griffin
CANBY -- Merle Everton Griffin died Feb. 8, 2004, in Canby. He was 95.
A celebration of life will be at 1p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the Chapel of the Valley L.B. Hall Funeral Home in Grants Pass. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Grants Pass.
He was born May 12, 1908, at his maternal grandfather's farm across the Rogue River from the present Griffin County Park.
A descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers, he lived his first 50 years in Grants Pass, where he graduated from high school in 1925.
Merle Griffin married Ruth Gray on Sept. 6, 1931.
He started working in the Josephine County Assessor's Office in 1929, and was county assessor from 1940-60.
Merle lived in Roseburg, Milwaukie and LaGrande, before moving to Canby in 1987.
He is survived by son Philip Griffin of Grants Pass; daughters Merldine Cardoza and Patricia Smith, both of Canby; sister Alma Fairfield of Grants Pass; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
His wife, Ruth, preceded him in death on Feb. 8, 1995.
Memorials may be made to the Gray Griffin Scholarship Fund, Warner-Pacific College Advancement Office, 2219 S.E. 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215. Arrangements are by Cornwell Colonial Funeral Chapel of Woodburn.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Grants Pass Daily Courier, February 10, 2004
Merle Griffin lived in GP 50 years
By Howard Huntington
Merle Everton Griffin, namesake for Josephine County's Griffin Park and one of the founders of the local historical society, died on Sunday. He was 95.
"He was a very stable, respected, dependable citizen. That's for sure," said Alma Fairfield, last survivor among Griffin's four siblings. "He was the kind of big brother who looked out for his baby sister."
A descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers and son of George and Susie Griffin, Merle Griffin was born May 12, 1908, at his maternal grandfather's farm across the Rogue River from the future Griffin Park.
He lived his first 50 years in Grants Pass, graduating from high school in 1925. Four years later, he went to work in the county Assessor's Office, rose to assessor in 1940 and kept the job for two decades.
Bob Loveless, who worked under Griffin in the Assessor's Office, recalled he was a man of remarkable patience and control.
"I never heard him say a cuss word," even when a secretary slammed his finger in the door of a heavy cabinet, said Loveless. "He said, 'By grabby, that smarts!'"
"I know he just boiled inside sometimes because nobody likes taxes and everybody's mad when they come in," Loveless said.
Loveless learned one great lesson from Griffin: "You couldn't put a balloon in a bottle until you let the air out."
Griffin would let the people vent, then ask what he could do to help them.
"They usually walked out of there feeling like he was their friend and not their enemy," said Loveless.
Loveless and Griffin also became friends and fished the Rogue together many times. "He had an old boat," Loveless said. "We had to bail every once in a while. We got some pretty nice stealhead."
Griffin also was a right-of-way agent for the Oregon Highway Department for several years before retiring in 1973.
He was on Josephine County's Park Board in the first days of the park system, and was said to be especially pleased to help acquire land along the Rogue for what is now regarded as the crown jewel of the system -- Indian Mary Park.
Griffin Park is one of the smaller but most popular parks, offering camping, good fishing and a free place to enjoy boat races during the annual Boatnik celebration in Grants Pass.
Families rent the entire park for reunions.
Merle Griffin also was president of the Isaak Walton Society when the Walton building was built in Riverside Park. The building, which served as a community center, was razed in 1999.
He actively opposed new, high dams on the Rogue. He is credited with being instrumental in forming the Josephine County Historical Society and was on the Hillcrest Cemetery Board.
Griffin enjoyed hiking, fishing, boating and hunting in Southern Oregon, and played various roles in Barnstormers Theatre productions in Grants Pass.
He also lived in Roseburg, Milwaukie, La Grande and Canby, where he died.
"He lived a good, full life," Fairfield said. "There wasn't an any more honest man." She also spoke of their pioneer heritage, adding that a mountain and a creek also bear the Griffin family name.
In addition to Fairfield, of Grants Pass, Griffin is survived by a son, Philip Griffin of Grants Pass; daughters Merldine Cardoza and Patricia Smith of Canby; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Merle Griffin's wife of 63 years, Ruth Gray Griffin, died in 1995.
The family invites everyone to honor Merle Griffin Friday at 1 p.m. at Chapel of the Valley-L.B. Hall Funeral Home at 2065 Upper River Road.
Memorials may be made to Gray Griffin Scholarship, Warner Pacific College, Advancement Office 2219 S.E. 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215.
-----------------------
Paid Political Advertisement, date unknown
---To The Voters of Josephine County---
I am a candidate for the Republican nomination to the office of County Assessor.
I have become a candidate because I sincerely believe that I am qualified for the position. I feel that my experience and observations during the past 10-1/2 years as an employee in the assessor's office place me in a position to bring about some much needed changes, with a minimum of expense and delay if, by your vote, I shall be entrusted with the responsibility for future management of this office.
My candidacy is the result of my own deliberate action and I very definitely do not have any "understanding" or reciprocal agreements with any person or persons. I believe that the public is entitled to efficiency, and responsibility, not only in its elected officials but also in the help which these officials may hire. I firmly believe that the first obligation of any public official is to the public which he serves. I stand committed to this statement regardless of the outcome of the approaching election.
There is nothing in either my public record or my qualifications which I shall not be pleased to have thoroughy investigated.
I hope that I may merit your confidence and support in this campaign and in the following election.
Thank you.
MERLE E. GRIFFIN
-------------------------------------------
Uncle Merle was successful in his bid to become Josephine County Assessor, and held that position for many years.
-------------------------
Canby Herald, Weekday Edition, February 11, 2004
Merle Everton Griffin
CANBY -- Merle Everton Griffin died Feb. 8, 2004, in Canby. He was 95.
A celebration of life will be at 1p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the Chapel of the Valley L.B. Hall Funeral Home in Grants Pass. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Grants Pass.
He was born May 12, 1908, at his maternal grandfather's farm across the Rogue River from the present Griffin County Park.
A descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers, he lived his first 50 years in Grants Pass, where he graduated from high school in 1925.
Merle Griffin married Ruth Gray on Sept. 6, 1931.
He started working in the Josephine County Assessor's Office in 1929, and was county assessor from 1940-60.
Merle lived in Roseburg, Milwaukie and LaGrande, before moving to Canby in 1987.
He is survived by son Philip Griffin of Grants Pass; daughters Merldine Cardoza and Patricia Smith, both of Canby; sister Alma Fairfield of Grants Pass; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
His wife, Ruth, preceded him in death on Feb. 8, 1995.
Memorials may be made to the Gray Griffin Scholarship Fund, Warner-Pacific College Advancement Office, 2219 S.E. 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215. Arrangements are by Cornwell Colonial Funeral Chapel of Woodburn.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Grants Pass Daily Courier, February 10, 2004
Merle Griffin lived in GP 50 years
By Howard Huntington
Merle Everton Griffin, namesake for Josephine County's Griffin Park and one of the founders of the local historical society, died on Sunday. He was 95.
"He was a very stable, respected, dependable citizen. That's for sure," said Alma Fairfield, last survivor among Griffin's four siblings. "He was the kind of big brother who looked out for his baby sister."
A descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers and son of George and Susie Griffin, Merle Griffin was born May 12, 1908, at his maternal grandfather's farm across the Rogue River from the future Griffin Park.
He lived his first 50 years in Grants Pass, graduating from high school in 1925. Four years later, he went to work in the county Assessor's Office, rose to assessor in 1940 and kept the job for two decades.
Bob Loveless, who worked under Griffin in the Assessor's Office, recalled he was a man of remarkable patience and control.
"I never heard him say a cuss word," even when a secretary slammed his finger in the door of a heavy cabinet, said Loveless. "He said, 'By grabby, that smarts!'"
"I know he just boiled inside sometimes because nobody likes taxes and everybody's mad when they come in," Loveless said.
Loveless learned one great lesson from Griffin: "You couldn't put a balloon in a bottle until you let the air out."
Griffin would let the people vent, then ask what he could do to help them.
"They usually walked out of there feeling like he was their friend and not their enemy," said Loveless.
Loveless and Griffin also became friends and fished the Rogue together many times. "He had an old boat," Loveless said. "We had to bail every once in a while. We got some pretty nice stealhead."
Griffin also was a right-of-way agent for the Oregon Highway Department for several years before retiring in 1973.
He was on Josephine County's Park Board in the first days of the park system, and was said to be especially pleased to help acquire land along the Rogue for what is now regarded as the crown jewel of the system -- Indian Mary Park.
Griffin Park is one of the smaller but most popular parks, offering camping, good fishing and a free place to enjoy boat races during the annual Boatnik celebration in Grants Pass.
Families rent the entire park for reunions.
Merle Griffin also was president of the Isaak Walton Society when the Walton building was built in Riverside Park. The building, which served as a community center, was razed in 1999.
He actively opposed new, high dams on the Rogue. He is credited with being instrumental in forming the Josephine County Historical Society and was on the Hillcrest Cemetery Board.
Griffin enjoyed hiking, fishing, boating and hunting in Southern Oregon, and played various roles in Barnstormers Theatre productions in Grants Pass.
He also lived in Roseburg, Milwaukie, La Grande and Canby, where he died.
"He lived a good, full life," Fairfield said. "There wasn't an any more honest man." She also spoke of their pioneer heritage, adding that a mountain and a creek also bear the Griffin family name.
In addition to Fairfield, of Grants Pass, Griffin is survived by a son, Philip Griffin of Grants Pass; daughters Merldine Cardoza and Patricia Smith of Canby; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Merle Griffin's wife of 63 years, Ruth Gray Griffin, died in 1995.
The family invites everyone to honor Merle Griffin Friday at 1 p.m. at Chapel of the Valley-L.B. Hall Funeral Home at 2065 Upper River Road.
Memorials may be made to Gray Griffin Scholarship, Warner Pacific College, Advancement Office 2219 S.E. 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215.
Son of George Griffin & Susie Everton, married Ruth Gray 6 Sept 1931 in Grants Pass.
-----------------------
Paid Political Advertisement, date unknown
---To The Voters of Josephine County---
I am a candidate for the Republican nomination to the office of County Assessor.
I have become a candidate because I sincerely believe that I am qualified for the position. I feel that my experience and observations during the past 10-1/2 years as an employee in the assessor's office place me in a position to bring about some much needed changes, with a minimum of expense and delay if, by your vote, I shall be entrusted with the responsibility for future management of this office.
My candidacy is the result of my own deliberate action and I very definitely do not have any "understanding" or reciprocal agreements with any person or persons. I believe that the public is entitled to efficiency, and responsibility, not only in its elected officials but also in the help which these officials may hire. I firmly believe that the first obligation of any public official is to the public which he serves. I stand committed to this statement regardless of the outcome of the approaching election.
There is nothing in either my public record or my qualifications which I shall not be pleased to have thoroughy investigated.
I hope that I may merit your confidence and support in this campaign and in the following election.
Thank you.
MERLE E. GRIFFIN
-------------------------------------------
Uncle Merle was successful in his bid to become Josephine County Assessor, and held that position for many years.
-------------------------
Canby Herald, Weekday Edition, February 11, 2004
Merle Everton Griffin
CANBY -- Merle Everton Griffin died Feb. 8, 2004, in Canby. He was 95.
A celebration of life will be at 1p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the Chapel of the Valley L.B. Hall Funeral Home in Grants Pass. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Grants Pass.
He was born May 12, 1908, at his maternal grandfather's farm across the Rogue River from the present Griffin County Park.
A descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers, he lived his first 50 years in Grants Pass, where he graduated from high school in 1925.
Merle Griffin married Ruth Gray on Sept. 6, 1931.
He started working in the Josephine County Assessor's Office in 1929, and was county assessor from 1940-60.
Merle lived in Roseburg, Milwaukie and LaGrande, before moving to Canby in 1987.
He is survived by son Philip Griffin of Grants Pass; daughters Merldine Cardoza and Patricia Smith, both of Canby; sister Alma Fairfield of Grants Pass; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
His wife, Ruth, preceded him in death on Feb. 8, 1995.
Memorials may be made to the Gray Griffin Scholarship Fund, Warner-Pacific College Advancement Office, 2219 S.E. 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215. Arrangements are by Cornwell Colonial Funeral Chapel of Woodburn.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Grants Pass Daily Courier, February 10, 2004
Merle Griffin lived in GP 50 years
By Howard Huntington
Merle Everton Griffin, namesake for Josephine County's Griffin Park and one of the founders of the local historical society, died on Sunday. He was 95.
"He was a very stable, respected, dependable citizen. That's for sure," said Alma Fairfield, last survivor among Griffin's four siblings. "He was the kind of big brother who looked out for his baby sister."
A descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers and son of George and Susie Griffin, Merle Griffin was born May 12, 1908, at his maternal grandfather's farm across the Rogue River from the future Griffin Park.
He lived his first 50 years in Grants Pass, graduating from high school in 1925. Four years later, he went to work in the county Assessor's Office, rose to assessor in 1940 and kept the job for two decades.
Bob Loveless, who worked under Griffin in the Assessor's Office, recalled he was a man of remarkable patience and control.
"I never heard him say a cuss word," even when a secretary slammed his finger in the door of a heavy cabinet, said Loveless. "He said, 'By grabby, that smarts!'"
"I know he just boiled inside sometimes because nobody likes taxes and everybody's mad when they come in," Loveless said.
Loveless learned one great lesson from Griffin: "You couldn't put a balloon in a bottle until you let the air out."
Griffin would let the people vent, then ask what he could do to help them.
"They usually walked out of there feeling like he was their friend and not their enemy," said Loveless.
Loveless and Griffin also became friends and fished the Rogue together many times. "He had an old boat," Loveless said. "We had to bail every once in a while. We got some pretty nice stealhead."
Griffin also was a right-of-way agent for the Oregon Highway Department for several years before retiring in 1973.
He was on Josephine County's Park Board in the first days of the park system, and was said to be especially pleased to help acquire land along the Rogue for what is now regarded as the crown jewel of the system -- Indian Mary Park.
Griffin Park is one of the smaller but most popular parks, offering camping, good fishing and a free place to enjoy boat races during the annual Boatnik celebration in Grants Pass.
Families rent the entire park for reunions.
Merle Griffin also was president of the Isaak Walton Society when the Walton building was built in Riverside Park. The building, which served as a community center, was razed in 1999.
He actively opposed new, high dams on the Rogue. He is credited with being instrumental in forming the Josephine County Historical Society and was on the Hillcrest Cemetery Board.
Griffin enjoyed hiking, fishing, boating and hunting in Southern Oregon, and played various roles in Barnstormers Theatre productions in Grants Pass.
He also lived in Roseburg, Milwaukie, La Grande and Canby, where he died.
"He lived a good, full life," Fairfield said. "There wasn't an any more honest man." She also spoke of their pioneer heritage, adding that a mountain and a creek also bear the Griffin family name.
In addition to Fairfield, of Grants Pass, Griffin is survived by a son, Philip Griffin of Grants Pass; daughters Merldine Cardoza and Patricia Smith of Canby; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Merle Griffin's wife of 63 years, Ruth Gray Griffin, died in 1995.
The family invites everyone to honor Merle Griffin Friday at 1 p.m. at Chapel of the Valley-L.B. Hall Funeral Home at 2065 Upper River Road.
Memorials may be made to Gray Griffin Scholarship, Warner Pacific College, Advancement Office 2219 S.E. 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215.
-----------------------
Paid Political Advertisement, date unknown
---To The Voters of Josephine County---
I am a candidate for the Republican nomination to the office of County Assessor.
I have become a candidate because I sincerely believe that I am qualified for the position. I feel that my experience and observations during the past 10-1/2 years as an employee in the assessor's office place me in a position to bring about some much needed changes, with a minimum of expense and delay if, by your vote, I shall be entrusted with the responsibility for future management of this office.
My candidacy is the result of my own deliberate action and I very definitely do not have any "understanding" or reciprocal agreements with any person or persons. I believe that the public is entitled to efficiency, and responsibility, not only in its elected officials but also in the help which these officials may hire. I firmly believe that the first obligation of any public official is to the public which he serves. I stand committed to this statement regardless of the outcome of the approaching election.
There is nothing in either my public record or my qualifications which I shall not be pleased to have thoroughy investigated.
I hope that I may merit your confidence and support in this campaign and in the following election.
Thank you.
MERLE E. GRIFFIN
-------------------------------------------
Uncle Merle was successful in his bid to become Josephine County Assessor, and held that position for many years.
-------------------------
Canby Herald, Weekday Edition, February 11, 2004
Merle Everton Griffin
CANBY -- Merle Everton Griffin died Feb. 8, 2004, in Canby. He was 95.
A celebration of life will be at 1p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the Chapel of the Valley L.B. Hall Funeral Home in Grants Pass. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Grants Pass.
He was born May 12, 1908, at his maternal grandfather's farm across the Rogue River from the present Griffin County Park.
A descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers, he lived his first 50 years in Grants Pass, where he graduated from high school in 1925.
Merle Griffin married Ruth Gray on Sept. 6, 1931.
He started working in the Josephine County Assessor's Office in 1929, and was county assessor from 1940-60.
Merle lived in Roseburg, Milwaukie and LaGrande, before moving to Canby in 1987.
He is survived by son Philip Griffin of Grants Pass; daughters Merldine Cardoza and Patricia Smith, both of Canby; sister Alma Fairfield of Grants Pass; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
His wife, Ruth, preceded him in death on Feb. 8, 1995.
Memorials may be made to the Gray Griffin Scholarship Fund, Warner-Pacific College Advancement Office, 2219 S.E. 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215. Arrangements are by Cornwell Colonial Funeral Chapel of Woodburn.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Grants Pass Daily Courier, February 10, 2004
Merle Griffin lived in GP 50 years
By Howard Huntington
Merle Everton Griffin, namesake for Josephine County's Griffin Park and one of the founders of the local historical society, died on Sunday. He was 95.
"He was a very stable, respected, dependable citizen. That's for sure," said Alma Fairfield, last survivor among Griffin's four siblings. "He was the kind of big brother who looked out for his baby sister."
A descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers and son of George and Susie Griffin, Merle Griffin was born May 12, 1908, at his maternal grandfather's farm across the Rogue River from the future Griffin Park.
He lived his first 50 years in Grants Pass, graduating from high school in 1925. Four years later, he went to work in the county Assessor's Office, rose to assessor in 1940 and kept the job for two decades.
Bob Loveless, who worked under Griffin in the Assessor's Office, recalled he was a man of remarkable patience and control.
"I never heard him say a cuss word," even when a secretary slammed his finger in the door of a heavy cabinet, said Loveless. "He said, 'By grabby, that smarts!'"
"I know he just boiled inside sometimes because nobody likes taxes and everybody's mad when they come in," Loveless said.
Loveless learned one great lesson from Griffin: "You couldn't put a balloon in a bottle until you let the air out."
Griffin would let the people vent, then ask what he could do to help them.
"They usually walked out of there feeling like he was their friend and not their enemy," said Loveless.
Loveless and Griffin also became friends and fished the Rogue together many times. "He had an old boat," Loveless said. "We had to bail every once in a while. We got some pretty nice stealhead."
Griffin also was a right-of-way agent for the Oregon Highway Department for several years before retiring in 1973.
He was on Josephine County's Park Board in the first days of the park system, and was said to be especially pleased to help acquire land along the Rogue for what is now regarded as the crown jewel of the system -- Indian Mary Park.
Griffin Park is one of the smaller but most popular parks, offering camping, good fishing and a free place to enjoy boat races during the annual Boatnik celebration in Grants Pass.
Families rent the entire park for reunions.
Merle Griffin also was president of the Isaak Walton Society when the Walton building was built in Riverside Park. The building, which served as a community center, was razed in 1999.
He actively opposed new, high dams on the Rogue. He is credited with being instrumental in forming the Josephine County Historical Society and was on the Hillcrest Cemetery Board.
Griffin enjoyed hiking, fishing, boating and hunting in Southern Oregon, and played various roles in Barnstormers Theatre productions in Grants Pass.
He also lived in Roseburg, Milwaukie, La Grande and Canby, where he died.
"He lived a good, full life," Fairfield said. "There wasn't an any more honest man." She also spoke of their pioneer heritage, adding that a mountain and a creek also bear the Griffin family name.
In addition to Fairfield, of Grants Pass, Griffin is survived by a son, Philip Griffin of Grants Pass; daughters Merldine Cardoza and Patricia Smith of Canby; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Merle Griffin's wife of 63 years, Ruth Gray Griffin, died in 1995.
The family invites everyone to honor Merle Griffin Friday at 1 p.m. at Chapel of the Valley-L.B. Hall Funeral Home at 2065 Upper River Road.
Memorials may be made to Gray Griffin Scholarship, Warner Pacific College, Advancement Office 2219 S.E. 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215.
