Dale Jones Griffitts

Dale Jones Griffitts, 70, of Maryville, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer. Dale was a heart transplant having received his heart at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on July 15, 1993. Dale was a member and past deacon of Maryville Friends (Quaker) Church. He belonged to the Gideon's International and the New Heart Society of East Tennessee. From 1974 until 1993, he owned and operated Dale Griffitts Repair Shop on Brown School Road. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ida Jones and Edgar Griffitts and his sister, Mary Patterson. His survivors include his wife, Marion Ridings Griffitts, and daughters and sons-in-law, Anne and Darrell Swaney of Maryville and Leah and Jeff Leblond of Wartrace, TN; grandchildren, McKenna and Karley Swaney and Luc and Elijah Leblond; brother and sister-in-law Johnny and Tina Griffitts of Tyrone, GA; sisters and brother-in-law, Sue Watkins of Norcross, GA and Anne and Gary Robertson of Stayton, OR; special sister-in-law, Anne Ridings Patrick and special brother-in-law, Keith Ridings. Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5, 2009 in the Trinity Chapel with Rev. Scott Knight and Rev. S.M. Atchley officiating. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at Grandview Cemetery with Jim Payne, Jerry Finchum, Mike Gregory, Steve Millsaps, Scott Burchfield, Thomas "Bones" Willocks, Ed Mitchell, Ronnie Dunlap serving as pallbearers. Buryl Davis, John Mobley, Herbert Ingle, Bud Ingle, and David McNeilly serving as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Monday, January 5, 2009 at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 983-1000, www.smithmortuary.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dale Jones Griffitts please visit our Sympathy Store.