GRIFFITTS, James Alvers 1897 - 1967

GRIFFITTS, POWERS, DAVIS, SCHLARBAUM, HOSIER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 12/31/2023 at 17:37:33

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, May 22, 1967
Front Page, Column 1

GRIFFITTS, Supervisor, Dies at 69

James A. GRIFFITTS, 69, chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors and former sheriff, died suddenly Saturday at 11:45 p.m. at the Oakdale Sanitorium (note: in Johnson Co., IA).

He had been a patient at Oakdale for the past four months.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church in charge of the Rev. Ned Gillum. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Masonic rites will be conducted at the grave. The body will be taken from the Weston Behner Funeral Home to the church at noon Wednesday.

All offices of the Jefferson County Courthouse will be closed Wednesday afternoon.

GRIFFITTS, a Democrat, was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Supervisors in 1964. He took office in 1965 and was named chairman of the three-member body on Jan. 3, 1966.

Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, he served 10 years as Jefferson County Sheriff. GRIFFITTS was first elected to that office in 1954. He served three two-year terms as sheriff and became the first to be elected to a four-year term, beginning in 1961.

GRIFFITTS had been a resident of Fairfield for more than 40 years. He was born Nov. 27, 1897 in Kentucky, the son of James M. and Nancy POWERS GRIFFITTS. He was married to Lou DAVIS Oct. 19, 1918.

Surviving are his wife and the following sisters and brothers: Mrs. Emmett SCHLARBAUM, Fairfield; Mrs. Clifford HOSIER, Craven and Gillis GRIFFITTS, all of Peoria, Ill.; Emmanuel GRIFFITTS, Stanford, Ky.; and David GRIFFITTS, Kamsack, Canada. Four brothers are deceased.

GRIFFITTS was a member of the First Christian Church, Masonic Lodge, White Shrine, Consistory, Kaaba Shrine, Order of Eastern Star, Eagles Lodge (sic - Aerie/Club) and the Knights of Pythias. He also served as Fairfield Rainbow Dad for 16 years.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, May 22, 1967
Page 5, Columns 5 and 6

NOTICE

Masonic Members Meet at
Masonic Temple Wednesday, May 24
at 1:15 p.m. to attend last rites
for Brother James A. GRIFFITTS.

Signed,
Dale E. Chase,
Worshipful Master

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 4th.074. Wife Lou died in 1988 and was buried with him. The photo of James ran with the first article. The Oakdale Sanatorium was a treatment facility for those with tuberculosis in rural Johnson County near Iowa City, IA.

Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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