Mabel Griffis

November 10, 1918 - July 13, 2018

Elma Mabel Griffis, 99, of Oskaloosa, died Friday, July 13, 2018 at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Elma Mabel Houser was born in Mahaska County on the family farm at the base of Bellefountaine Hill close to the Des Moines River near Tracy, Iowa on November 10, 1918. Mabel was the youngest of eight children born to Jacob and Elma McMeins Houser. She had five brothers and two sisters. She attended grade and high school at Tracy, graduating from high school in 1936. After taking a bookkeeping and office management course, she started working at F.W. Woolworth in Oskaloosa (for 10 cents an hour). Then, on to Sears Roebuck store for two years. In the summer of 1939 Mabel married Lynn Griffis. They moved to Newton, Iowa for three years, and returned to Oskaloosa in 1943 to care for Lynn’s father, Meade Griffis, the blacksmith. Mabel has lived in Oskaloosa ever since. Mabel and Lynn were the parents of three children, Judy, Jim and Jack. She was a homemaker for many years, and when her children were older, in 1957 she started working for the Younkers Store in Oskaloosa. She was manager of the ladies’ sportswear department. In the middle 50’s she was active with Mother’s March for Better Schools, and held various offices in the PTA. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church, and a member of Centennial Circle of King’s Daughters.In 1962 Mabel was hired by the Charles Russell Insurance Agency and became a licensed personal lines agent. She worked in the insurance office for 36 years namely, Russell Insurance. The business made a name change to Professional Insurance Counselors, then merged with Brown Insurance known as Butler-Brown Insurance. Mabel retired in 1998 at the age of 79 years. She has always been a sports fan having played basketball at Tracy High School. She enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, and the Chicago Cubs. She was an excellent seamstress, having made numerous quilts which she gave to all her children and grandchildren. For many years she made all her own clothes and those of her children. She loved working in her yard, traveling, and having fun with her family. Her family was always the best part of her life, and she said they were what kept her going in her long life. She loved and taught us all so much, most importantly to love and treat others with dignity and respect. She will forever be remembered through her ideals carried forward by those she has left behind. We will love her forever. She lives in our hearts. She is survived by her daughter, Judy Belzer, and son, Jack (Cathy) Griffis of Oskaloosa. Three granddaughters, Mary Ann (Roger) Horn and Jennifer Griffis of Oskaloosa, Valerie (Jeff) Spencer of Belle Plaine, Minnesota, four great granddaughters, C.J. and Jessica Spencer (Tim Mechtel), Sadie and Aubree Huber, two great-great grandsons, Sawyer and Myles Mechtel, and many nieces and nephews who were special to her. She was also “Mom” to her special cat, KoKo. Preceding her in death besides her husband, Lynn in 1973, son, Jim in 1992, and her parents, her five brothers, Dell, Carl, Park, Ralph, and Cecil Houser. Sisters, Lottie Binns and Ethel Van Engelhoven. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Reverend Bruce Wittern officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Tuesday after 1 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday evening to greet friends and relatives. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Central United Methodist Church of Oskaloosa.