Fearless and independent. Adventurous and brave. A true cowboy with true grit, cut from the toughest and finest cloth God ever made.

Tom was called home to glory on February 11, 2021. He passed peacefully at Yuma regional medical center with his wife, Carol at his side.

Tom was born in Fossil, Oregon to Letha and George Griffin August 20, 1939. He was raised on the family Homestead with his brother Roy Griffin, and sisters "Little" Ruth Griffin, Ruby Nunn, Carmelita Holland, Arleta Dennis and Laura Perrigan. Tom's grandfather had travelled the Oregon trail to brave the Wild West, a spirit Tom carried throughout his life.

By the age of 12, Tom owned and repaired automobiles. At age 14, he left home to work on a large ranch where he worked taming horses - a real cowboy in every way. He was a star receiver on his championship high school football team. After high school, he operated and repaired combines, harvesting wheat from Texas to Calgary. He settled in Coeur d'Alene Idaho where he worked at a lumber mill and later for the Forest Service loading fire retardant on to airplanes and enjoyed when he was allowed to ride along on the bombing runs fighting forest fires. Ever the adventure lover, he earned his small aircraft pilots license as well. He opened his own auto repair service, a precast concrete company, had several mining ventures, a sand and gravel company, was a land developer, he built, owned and operated an entire water utility system and industrial park. He could and did operate everything with wheels or tracks and could fix them all. Tom had many accomplishments under his belt but his greatest source of pride was his family and his many, many lifelong friends who may as well be. He greeted everyone with a big smile a warm handshake, a story to tell, a joke to share and a cup of coffee. He always had time for a conversation and was never too busy to say hello. And if you ever saw his big grin, you won't soon forget it.

Tom married his most beloved wife Carol on September 15, 1991, his true partner, he was truly grateful to have such a loving and caring woman. Though they have no children together they brought together a family in Glenn Griffin, Jennifer Clark (Parker) and Geoffrey and Kristin Parker who have given them eight grandchildren; Thomas Griffin, Kelsie Thompson, Sarah Nordlund, Natalie Griffin, Jessica Griffin, Cassandra Bailey, Trevor Parker, Maggie Parker and 10 great-grandchildren.

Together with Carol, Tom shared his music and love of God from Idaho to Arizona in many churches and venues along the way. He played the bass,banjo, mandolin and guitar all beautifully and effortlessly. Though he rarely sang, he knew nearly every song in the hymnal + a thousand or so more. He loved to make us all smile with songs, stories, jokes, kindness, daredevil antics, and when he laughed you couldn't help but laugh along with him. He loved God, his wife, his family, his friends, his church and his country. A great man, father, husband, brother, grandfather and friend he will be missed by all were blessed to know him. He was our hero and forever will be.