Joyce I Griggs, 86, died Oct. 19, 2009, at Hester Care Center at Wesley Towers. She was born Feb. 18, 1923, in Guymon, Okla., to Walter William and Laura Reid McMahan Kennedy. She graduated from Guymon High School in 1940, Oklahoma State University in 1945 and completed graduate work at Sterling College and Wichita State University. A resident of Hutchinson since 1960, moving from Perryton, Texas, she was also a former resident of Yukon, Okla. Mrs. Griggs was a retired educator. Her career covered schools in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. She taught for USD No. 308, Midland School and USD No. 313, where she taught for over 20 years.

She belonged to the P.E.O., was a volunteer for the Reno County Food Bank, Hutchinson Hospital Auxiliary, and the Hutchinson Correctional Facility Ministry Program.

On Feb. 25, 1944, she married John W. Griggs Jr., in Guymon, Okla. He survives. Other survivors include: sons, Andy and wife Becky, Hutchinson, Bryan, Hutchinson, John III and wife Stephanie, Inman; grandchildren, Nicki Denney and husband Brian, Hutchinson, and Brett Griggs and wife Jamie, Liberty, Mo.; a great-grandchild, Austin Denney, Hutchinson; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Merrill Kennedy, and a sister, Esther Munson.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at Westbrook Baptist Church, Hutchinson, with Pastors Bob Shelton and Andy Addis presiding. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with the family present to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park. Memorials may be sent to the church or the Reno County Food Bank, both in care of the funeral home. Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family