Garcia Lee Griffin

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Visitation Schedule
Visitation
Secdon Baptist Church
Dave Ward
Conway, AR  72034
Monday, August 25, 2014
2-3pm
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
Second Baptist Church
Dave Ward
Conway, AR  72034
Monday, August 25, 2014
3pm
Cemetery
Crestlawn Memorial Park
472 Hwy 64 East
Conway, AR  72032
Garcia Lee Griffin

of Conway, AR

January 15, 1921 - August 22, 2014

Garcia L. ''Mistoe'' Griffin, 93 of Conway, Arkansas passed away August 22, 2014. He was born on January 15, 1921 in Bernie, Missouri to the late Herlie and Viola Griffin.

Mistoe was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a deacon and member of Second Baptist Church, an avid sportsman, pilot, and WWII veteran. Mistoe met Marie Lane while stationed at Camp Robinson and they were married for 68 years until her death in 2009.

His aviation career began at Cantrell Field, first as a mechanic and later as a pilot and instructor. He was passionate about flying and spent a lifetime piloting various types of aircraft ranging from crop dusters to corporate jets. His flying career included 27 years as a corporate pilot for Ward Bus Company in Conway. Mistoe's stellar reputation as a pilot was recognized at age 90 when he was presented the Department of Transportation's prestigious FAA Master Pilot Award recognizing 50 years of accident-free piloting.

When he wasn't flying, Mistoe could be found in the woods or on a lake, hunting and fishing and making countless memories with family and friends.

More important to him than his career and hobbies, however, was Mistoe's Christianity. He was a Godly man of great and steadfast faith, who, as the patriarch of his large family, led by example. Some of his proudest moments were witnessing the baptisms of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, most at Second Baptist, the church he held so dear. He was a humble, honest, kind, loving and compassionate man who lived a colorful life, long in years and rich in wisdom and experience.

He is also preceded in death by his daughter; Jeannie Stanton, and a granddaughter; Laura Stanton, both of Conway, AR.

Left to cherish Mistoe's legacy of faith and love are his children, Kent Griffin and wife Jan, Peggy Bailey and husband Kenneth, Gayle Austin and husband Glenn, son in law; Gary Stanton, grandchildren; Shelly Moon and husband Pat, Gray Wagnon and husband Stoney, Hunter Austin and wife Ambra, and Valerie Henderson, great-grandchildren; Wes and Maegan Mathis, Tripp and Griff Wagnon, Hadleigh and Ethan Austin, and Kyle Henderson, all of Conway, one sister; Martha Fowler of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, sister in law; Pat Miller, of Conway, and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral Services will be Monday, August 25, 2014 at 3:00pm at Second Baptist Church on Dave Ward Dr. with Brothers Mark Dance and Clyde Spurgin officiating. Burial will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Conway. Visitation will be held from 2:00-3:00pm at the church prior to the service. Kent Griffin, Glenn Austin, Kenneth Bailey, Gary Stanton, Wes Mathis, and Frank Earney will serve as Pallbearers.


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19 Condolence(s)
Bill Thomas
Greenbrier, AR
Liked
Sunday, August 31, 2014

Kent,

I'm sorry to learn of your father's passing. I was just writing a story about Dwight Matchett and your father catching such large fish on the river years ago.

Take care.

Wendy & Iam
Conway,
Liked
Friday, August 29, 2014

Dad & I were blessed to have Mistoe & Marie as neighbors. We were grateful for their friendship & support over the past 10 years. He will be missed, but we know he has gone home. Our prayers are with the family.

Dale Nutter
,
Liked
Wednesday, August 27, 2014

He was the finest of gentlemen and a wonderful role model for Kent's friends and all who knew him.

Pam Lee
Conway, AR
Liked
Wednesday, August 27, 2014

I was sad to hear about Mistoe, he was such a precious person. I have MANY memories of your family that I will always cherish.
May God Bless and comfort you during this time.

Pam

Martha Lane
Nirth Little Rock,
Liked
Tuesday, August 26, 2014

I was sad to here of your dads passing. I was blessed to have known him. He always had a smile and a hug for Steve and I. I know that all of you will miss him but you have a heart full of memories to call on daily. I just learned of his passing today. Do sorry that I missed all of you yesterday.
Love and prayers to you all,
Martha Lane

Beverly Wallace
Bee Branch, AR
Liked
Monday, August 25, 2014

Peggy and family, I am so sorry for your loss. I know you can and will take comfort in knowing that he is now in Heaven with your mom and others. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Much love, Beverly

Janice (Hambuchen) Cullum
Conway, AR
Liked
Monday, August 25, 2014

You are are in my thoughts and prayers.

Jimmy Joe & Dorothy Harmon
Conway, AR
Liked
Monday, August 25, 2014

May God give you comfort and strength. Heaven has gained a wonderful, humble Christian man. I knew him from the time he taught me to fly when I was 16, and he was a young man. He had such character & patience and was a major influence in my life.

Much later in life, I have had the privilege of being in the same Small Group at church. He'll be greatly missed.

Dorothy & I send our thoughts & prayers.

Mark Shaw
Snellville, GA
Liked
Monday, August 25, 2014

I have just learned of Brother Mistoe's passing. My heart hurts for his beautiful family, but it rejoices for him personally! I can't even begin to imagine the celebration of his homecoming! I have known very few men who, in my mind, can measure up to Mistoe Griffin. When I worked with the youth group at SBC many years ago, I could always count on Mistoe to pray for and support our program and our kids. He will surely be missed among the faithful at SBC.

Donna Sue Rodgers Dillahunty
Little Rock,
Liked
Sunday, August 24, 2014

My thoughts and prayers are with you. What a fine, faithful man. And what a legacy he left. I can still see your family sitting on the east side of the buff brick church toward the back. A great memory of faithful servants.

MIke & Karen Davis
Conway, AR
Liked
Sunday, August 24, 2014

To The Griffin Family:

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time! Mistoe carried a special place in our hearts ! What a wonderful christian man!
He was truly a man of God ! He has left an
imprint in our life and many other lives !
May the Lord comfort you in the days to come!


Mike & Karen Davis

Melissa browning
Conway,
Liked
Sunday, August 24, 2014

So sorry for the loss if your sweet Daddy. I didn't know Mistoe well, but since a child , Mistoe and Marie were names well known to me through my parents Blake and Emily. I was fortunate to see him at the gathering for Geneva Norman and enjoyed a short visit. My thoughts and prayers are with all the family.

Pam Holloway
Conway, AR
Liked
Saturday, August 23, 2014

To the Griffin family,
Mistoe was one of the finest men I have ever known and he will certainly be missed. He was such a genuine person and so faithful. It was my privilege to know him. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Pam

Wright & Carolyn Bundrick
Conway, AR
Liked
Saturday, August 23, 2014

We consider it a great blessing to have known and worshipped with Mistoe all these years. He has been missed this past year and we will continue to miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family. We will be out of town and will miss the service, but know that you all are in our prayers. God bless the family.

Wright and Carolyn Bundrick
Saturday August 23, 2014

William and Darlene Cole
Ft. Myers, FL
Liked
Saturday, August 23, 2014

Mistoe was one the finest men I ever had the pleasure of knowing. I flew with him for a number of years at Ward Bus. We had many many good
trips and experiences together.

He was a man of extremely high morals and I admired his convictions and devotion to his family and church.

He was the person who hired me at Ward Bus so he was my mentor as well as my friend. I think of him often and he will be dearly missed.

William B. Cole

Rick & Melinda Reynolds
Greenbrier, AR
Liked
Saturday, August 23, 2014

To the Griffin family you will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Freddy & Kay Williams
Conway, AR
Liked
Saturday, August 23, 2014

Kay and I consider it high a privilege to have gone to church with such an man who walked the walk and talked the talk. We pray God's comfort to all the family during this time. May God Bless the Family.

Mitch Collins
Conway, AR
Liked
Saturday, August 23, 2014

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful and kind neighbor Mistoe was. He seemed to genuinely care about me and my life. I have noticed he hadn't walked over to my house much in the last year or so. I have thought many times about walking over and checking on him. I'm sorry I didn't. He was a blessing to me and I am sure he was to everyone in his life. I will miss his tap of his horn and his wave. My condolences,
Dr. Mitch Collins

John Wayne Carter
conway, AR
Liked
Friday, August 22, 2014

Thoughts and prayers are with you . Know he will be missed by all who know him. Fine gentleman.



John Wayne and Dale