Gene Griffith

Herbert Gene Griffith, an 89-year-old resident of Gilman City, died on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Blue Ridge Church at Blue Ridge (six miles northwest of Gilman City off Highway 146). Burial will follow in the Masonic Cemetery in Gilman City.
A family visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the church.
Mr. Griffith was born on Feb. 6, 1929 in Harrison County, the son of Walter and Edith Mae Oram Griffith.
He was married on Aug. 14, 1949 to Lois Nell Gwinn and to this union five children were born, Gloria, Janet, Joyce, Phillip and Melanie. They later divorced in 1976.
In 1978 he married Frieda Bland in Paris, MO and to this union one son was born, Gene. In addition, five step-children expanded the family, William, Bertsel, Robin, Ansel and Shelly.
He spent his whole life in Gilman City farming in the area. He had a great love of antiques and attended many local flea markets. Gene never knew a stranger and loved to share stories of basketball players over the years that he had refereed in the area for 39 years. He faithfully attended the Blue Ridge Christian Church for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Frieda of the home; children, Gloria Flint of Gilman City, Janet (Casey) McMahon of Gilman City, Joyce (Mike) Herrold of Trenton, Phillip (Kelli) Griffith of Gilman City, Melanie (Derek) Kreifels of Shawnee, KS and Gene Griffith of Gilman City; step-children, William Tate, Bertsel (Stephanie) Tate, Ansel (Bonnie) Tate and Shelly Payne; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and nine step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James; a sister-in-law, Leo Griffith; a son-in-law, Allen Flint; and a step-son, Robin Tate.
Memorials may be made to the Gene Griffith Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date. They may be mailed to the Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.