Hazel Rose Griffin, 96 of Fort Smith passed away Friday, September 05, 2008 in Fort Smith. Her family came to Arkansas on one of the Trail Of Tears excavations, and her grandfather homesteaded land in Washington and Crawford Counties. Her grandfather and father pioneered the first Masonic lodge in that region. She was orphaned at the age of ten, and had to help raise her brothers and sisters. She learned to pick cotton and worked as a machinist in the ship yards at San Diego, CA during WWII. She is preceded in death by her siblings Dessie Naomi Rose Holt, Clara Ethel Rose Archibald, Sarah Lou Rose Lamadrid, and Charley Bill Rose.
Services will be 10:00 AM Monday, September 8, 2008 at Fentress Mortuary Chapel with burial to follow at Garrett Creek Cemetery near Natural Dam, Arkansas. Arrangements are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith.
She is survived by three daughters; Jane Rose Griffin Gibson of Anchorage, AK, Rebecca Sharon Griffin Squire of Little Rock, AR, and Doris Jean Griffin Nichols of Fillmore, CA, one son, Loyd Olen Griffin of Huntington, AR, and one brother, Ray James Rose of Roland, OK She also has eleven grandchildren; Steven Loyd Griffin, Sunday Lea Griffin Lorenz, Danielle Terrazo Oliver, Michelle Terrazo, Franklin Scott Gamble, Stacy Lee Gamble, Andrew Ray Gamble, Michael Lowery Nichols, Matthew Loy Nichols, Melissa Ann Squire, and Robert Justin Squire. Thirteen great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 4p.m. to 6p.m. Sunday at Fentress Mortuary.
To sign an on line guest book please visit www.fentressmortuary.com