Jim Stewart Griffin
1937 January - 2020 July
Created by Amber 3 years agoJimmy “Jim" Stewart Griffin was called home by our heavenly father on July 24, 2020 at the age of 83. He entered this world on January 15, 1937 in England, Arkansas born to Era Mae and Earl Griffin. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Gerry Griffin and Stan Griffin, wife Barbara Griffin and son Jimmy Wade Griffin. He is survived by brother Johnny Griffin and spouse Barbara Waters Griffin; the mother of his children Eddie Pearl; daughter-in-law Cynthia Griffin, son Brian Griffin and spouse Kim; daughter Bonnie Heinrich and spouse Gary; son Billy Griffin and spouse Kimberly; son Edward Griffin and spouse Crystal, his 16 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
As a teenager Jim moved to Angleton, Texas with his family, where he graduated from Angleton High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Eddie Pearl Keener on April 23, 1955 and together they had 5 children. After 17 years of marriage, they began their journey apart in raising their children. Jim later married Barbara Beaty. When his father and mother made a decision to move to East Texas after their retirement and as his father’s health was failing due to lung cancer, Jim and Barbara followed them in that move so that he could take care of and be close to them. They eventually settled in Winnsboro, Texas. Jim and Barbara were married for 24 years. He nurtured and cared for her through her fight with pancreatic cancer and subsequent death in 1997. His nurturing side was not only seen caring of Barbara, but also as he cared for his mother and father as well as his aunt Jo during their later years in life.
Jim was a hard worker all his life. He started out working the oil rigs in Louisiana and Texas, then worked at Dow Chemical plant, followed by his impressive career as a well-known and respected paint and body man. In 1989, he finally opened his own shop, Griffin’s Paint and Body, in Winnsboro Texas with his youngest son, Ed Griffin. The business became well established and lucrative before his retirement, at which time, he sold his portion of the business to his youngest son, Ed. Even in his retirement, he couldn’t help but offer Ed some business “advice” or help straighten out a damaged frame the way only Jim could do.
Jim Griffin played as hard as he worked. He was a great storyteller and he had many things to talk about or brag about, depending on your perception. He was a light-weight boxer and successful arm wrestler. At one point, a Brazoria County Judge ruled his hands as a “deadly weapon”, meaning any altercation outside of a boxing ring would be deemed use of a deadly weapon as his strength was unmatched. Jim also was acknowledged by the Guinness’s Book of World Records for the record setting number of 2-finger and one arm pull-ups he could perform. He had amazing upper body strength, throughout his whole life.
As a young adult, he had several canoe races down the Brazos with his buddy, JAMES “Du-dee” Morgan. These races would last for multiple days. They were great friends and had fun preparing for and participating in the local events. This was just one of their many adventures. Jim had a large number of friends in Brazoria County and loved being with them. Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed the outdoors with his friends. Often, they would hunt and kill alligator in the swamps on the gulf coast. They also enjoyed many outings such as camping, hunting and fishing. He shared his love for hunting and, in particular, fishing with his children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Jim greatly enjoyed family time. You could, often, find him playing cards with his parents and siblings on weeknights. Summer days were spent outside playing in a highly competitive game of croquet or a round of volleyball or badminton with siblings, nieces and nephews, children, and grandchildren.
He made friends easily and everywhere he went, people loved him. He was sure to quickly find something positive to say to people and meant it. He was a great friend and truly cared about people, yet his family always came first. He would often say how lucky he was to have such “good” children who loved each other and how beautiful or good-looking his children and grandchildren are. He attributed their good looks to their mother/grandmother, Eddie Pearl, his Wilkins Street girl. He would always say, while shaking his head, “I just don’t know how I got so lucky.”
A man of faith, he felt that God was in control and he loved his walk with Him. In the evenings, when his eyesight would allow, he would read his Bible before falling to sleep each night. He loved learning about God’s word and would engage in enlightening conversations of the story he was reading in the Bible. Without a doubt, Jim loved God, depended on Him and carried Him in his heart every day.
Even when he was feeling his worst and had been through so many medical challenges the last couple of months of his life, he was always cooperative, caring and complimented each member of the medical staff he encountered. With visiting restrictions in place, updates on his stays in the hospital were done daily over the phone. Before we could get the medical update the nursing staff always state, “I just have to tell you, I love this man. He is so sweet, and I just want to take him home with me”. Jim made an impact on everyone he met.
God Knew the day our family lost this wonderful man, would be the hardest day of our lives. Quietly and peacefully, God took this amazing man by his hand, gently leading him home to his heavenly mansion. We will miss him tremendously and yet we rejoice in the Heavenly Life that he is finally able to have.
As a teenager Jim moved to Angleton, Texas with his family, where he graduated from Angleton High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Eddie Pearl Keener on April 23, 1955 and together they had 5 children. After 17 years of marriage, they began their journey apart in raising their children. Jim later married Barbara Beaty. When his father and mother made a decision to move to East Texas after their retirement and as his father’s health was failing due to lung cancer, Jim and Barbara followed them in that move so that he could take care of and be close to them. They eventually settled in Winnsboro, Texas. Jim and Barbara were married for 24 years. He nurtured and cared for her through her fight with pancreatic cancer and subsequent death in 1997. His nurturing side was not only seen caring of Barbara, but also as he cared for his mother and father as well as his aunt Jo during their later years in life.
Jim was a hard worker all his life. He started out working the oil rigs in Louisiana and Texas, then worked at Dow Chemical plant, followed by his impressive career as a well-known and respected paint and body man. In 1989, he finally opened his own shop, Griffin’s Paint and Body, in Winnsboro Texas with his youngest son, Ed Griffin. The business became well established and lucrative before his retirement, at which time, he sold his portion of the business to his youngest son, Ed. Even in his retirement, he couldn’t help but offer Ed some business “advice” or help straighten out a damaged frame the way only Jim could do.
Jim Griffin played as hard as he worked. He was a great storyteller and he had many things to talk about or brag about, depending on your perception. He was a light-weight boxer and successful arm wrestler. At one point, a Brazoria County Judge ruled his hands as a “deadly weapon”, meaning any altercation outside of a boxing ring would be deemed use of a deadly weapon as his strength was unmatched. Jim also was acknowledged by the Guinness’s Book of World Records for the record setting number of 2-finger and one arm pull-ups he could perform. He had amazing upper body strength, throughout his whole life.
As a young adult, he had several canoe races down the Brazos with his buddy, JAMES “Du-dee” Morgan. These races would last for multiple days. They were great friends and had fun preparing for and participating in the local events. This was just one of their many adventures. Jim had a large number of friends in Brazoria County and loved being with them. Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed the outdoors with his friends. Often, they would hunt and kill alligator in the swamps on the gulf coast. They also enjoyed many outings such as camping, hunting and fishing. He shared his love for hunting and, in particular, fishing with his children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Jim greatly enjoyed family time. You could, often, find him playing cards with his parents and siblings on weeknights. Summer days were spent outside playing in a highly competitive game of croquet or a round of volleyball or badminton with siblings, nieces and nephews, children, and grandchildren.
He made friends easily and everywhere he went, people loved him. He was sure to quickly find something positive to say to people and meant it. He was a great friend and truly cared about people, yet his family always came first. He would often say how lucky he was to have such “good” children who loved each other and how beautiful or good-looking his children and grandchildren are. He attributed their good looks to their mother/grandmother, Eddie Pearl, his Wilkins Street girl. He would always say, while shaking his head, “I just don’t know how I got so lucky.”
A man of faith, he felt that God was in control and he loved his walk with Him. In the evenings, when his eyesight would allow, he would read his Bible before falling to sleep each night. He loved learning about God’s word and would engage in enlightening conversations of the story he was reading in the Bible. Without a doubt, Jim loved God, depended on Him and carried Him in his heart every day.
Even when he was feeling his worst and had been through so many medical challenges the last couple of months of his life, he was always cooperative, caring and complimented each member of the medical staff he encountered. With visiting restrictions in place, updates on his stays in the hospital were done daily over the phone. Before we could get the medical update the nursing staff always state, “I just have to tell you, I love this man. He is so sweet, and I just want to take him home with me”. Jim made an impact on everyone he met.
God Knew the day our family lost this wonderful man, would be the hardest day of our lives. Quietly and peacefully, God took this amazing man by his hand, gently leading him home to his heavenly mansion. We will miss him tremendously and yet we rejoice in the Heavenly Life that he is finally able to have.
Pictures
Jim Griffin