D: March 20, 2023
Brian Paul Griffith, 68, of Cottage Grove, Ore. passed away on March 20, 2023, after a long illness.
Brian was born in Poughkeepsie, New York to Catherine and Gene Griffith. He was two when the family moved to Lexington, Ky. after his dad was transferred there with IBM.
Brian grew up on a marvelous street for kids and got into a lot of crazy fun and trouble – usually instigated by his older brother Howard.
Brian had a lifelong love of outdoors and fishing as he and his father made several trips to Canada to enjoy the lakes and wonderful fishing. He enjoyed cycling and had numerous bicycles. His love of animals, both cats and dogs, resulted in several rescues through the years.
He enjoyed woodworking with his dad that carried on to adulthood. He worked at Howard and Heafey florist in Lexington during high school at Bryan Station. He attended the University of Kentucky before transferring to Oregon State. There, he majored in agriculture.
He loved Oregon and the surrounding states and decided to stay after college. His work over the years included working in a nursery, a golf course and later roofing.
He always made time to visit the family every summer and Christmas. One special day all the “men” in the family (both granddads, Howard and Brian and Max) took a hot air balloon ride together and celebrated with champagne after they landed!
Brian was preceded in death by both his parents. He leaves to cherish his memory his brother Howard (Monica) Louisville, Ky.; nephew Maxwell Griffith, Cincinnati, Ohio; cousins Bonnie Weaver, Wallingford, Pa.; Becky Kaag, Hershey, Pa.; and Caesar the cat, of Cottage Grove.
The family gives special thanks and gratitude to Lisa Jones, of Cottage Grove, his longtime friend, for her tireless dedication and care during his illness. It can never be fully appreciated.
Rusty and Lanora Watkins and Bill and Cathy Lancaster were great friends, as well as great neighbors.
Thanks to Willamette cancer center, the Hoparus and palliative care NPs that followed him in Cottage Grove, and Bristol Hospice during his stay at Lone Oak Assisted Living.
Any expressions of sympathy can be made through the Humane Society of Cottage Grove in Brian’s name. He would love that. Arrangements by Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium.
