Cover photo for Verma Jewell Wright Griffin's Obituary
Verma Jewell Wright Griffin Profile Photo

Verma Jewell Wright Griffin

d. July 24, 2018

Visitation for Jewell Griffin of Lawrence, Kansas, will be held at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, July 30, 2018. Jewell died peacefully at home on July 24, 2018, at the age of 94. She was loved by so many.

Jewell was born Verma Jewell Wright in Lamar County, Alabama, but later in life, she would tell anyone who asked her name, “Diamonds, sapphires, or rubies—I don’t care what Jewell you call me as long as it’s something pretty.” She was the first of six children born to Lester Hoy Wright and Frances Addine Butler Wright. After graduating from Millport High School in 1943, she moved with her family to Aliceville, Alabama. Shortly after, while living with her sister in Raleigh, North Carolina, she met Seth T. “Buddy” Griffin, Jr., who was from Lawrence, Kansas, and approaching the end of his military service at Fort Bragg. They were married on September 30, 1955. He and Jewell were happily married until his death in August 2017.

After his discharge from the army, Buddy brought Jewell and her daughter from a previous marriage, Teresa, to Lawrence. Betty Sue, Buddy and Jewell’s second daughter, was born nearly a year later. During their marriage, Jewell worked several jobs in Lawrence, but she preferred the role of homemaker.

Jewell is survived by her daughters Teresa Frances Griffin Guntert of Lawrence and Betty Sue Griffin Palmer (and husband Hank) of Holt, Missouri. Three grandchildren survive her: Jordan Schyler Guntert of Lawrence; Ehren David Guntert (and wife Breanna) of Dallas, Texas; and Tayler Frances Guntert of Denver, Colorado. She is survived by two step granddaughters, Heather (Greg) Lowry of Tumwater, Washington, and Rebecca (Clark) Deisseroth of Kansas City, Missouri, and by her step great-granddaughter Anna Lowry. Also surviving are two sisters and a brother: Dessie Sue Wright Woodruff of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Betty Jean Wright Shamburger of Spotsylvania, Virginia; and Bernice Edward Wright of Aliceville, Alabama. She was predeceased by her brothers J.T. Wright and James Edward Wright of Aliceville, Alabama, along with her son-in-law David Robert Guntert of Lawrence, Kansas. Jewell was blessed with a wealth of nieces and nephews all of whom loved her and she loved very much. Related to Jewell and Buddy by the pleasure of many years of friendship and neighborly kindnesses, John and Helen Renick of Lawrence also survive Jewell and Buddy.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Chris Tsuglis from the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association for an abundance of kind and compassionate care for Jewell during her final year. The Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association is suggested for memorials, which may be sent care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 .

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Verma Jewell Wright Griffin, please visit our flower store.

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Visitation

Monday, July 30, 2018

4:00 - 6:00 pm (Central time)

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