Sarah Griffice

Sarah Lucille Griffice

In an effort to bypass the debilitating thought of retirement, or perhaps just another Utah winter, Sarah Lucille Griffice up and left this world on October 21, 2015, one week shy of her 60th birthday.  Cancer, you’re a fickle, fickle bitch.  She is preceeded in death by her husband and eternal mate, Gary Lee Griffice, two tonsils and one kidney.  And although she leaves behind the Mocha Frappuccino, with which she carried on a torrid and glaringly obvious love affair, we can be certain that she is finally whole again standing next to Dad on the other side, healthy, pain free and with all her original parts.

Sarah is survived by a legacy that bears witness to her applaud-worthy contributions to this world.  Perhaps most notably, her three children and seven grandchildren all of which having, in large part, her unparalleled parenting skills to thank for just how awesome they’ve all turned out.  Additionally she’s left us all a lifetime of valuable lessons, a few of which, meriting recognition herein:

Always follow the creek bed if you get lost.

Love is something that is offered unconditionally.

It’s best not to name certain farm animals.

Never say “no” without reason.

Dr. Hook’s Bankrupt is the only acceptable album to do housework to.

Aim well and fire once.

Never let something as small as child birth stop you from doing your part during branding time.

Kids will eat any vegetable if you soak it in batter and deep fry it.

Act first, ask questions later.

A snake can be killed with shakeshot, a square-head shovel or a properly utilized lawn mower.

Loyalty comes without restrictions or charge.

If you can’t make lemonade from the lemons you’re handed you can sure as hell roll them in sugar first.

There is simply no way to put the life of such an incredible woman into words that will fit within the confines of a column obituary but Perhaps Dad said it best when he wrote,  “She was born in California, bread from Oklahoma stock.  If you back her in a corner she’d soon as fight you than not.  There isn’t a horse she couldn’t handle or a cow she couldn’t tie.  She’s a California cowgirl and she’s mine.”  I think we can all agree with that, Dad.  Anyone blessed enough to call Sarah a friend in this life knows that she gave herself fully and without question.  Anyone finding themselves on the other side of that coin, God have mercy on your souls.

In conclusion, in lieu of flowers, she requests that a selfless and unexpected act of kindness be passed along in her memory.  An appropriate celebration of Sarah’s life will be held privately and in our own good time.  For all others, we ask only that you raise a glass, or whatever else you may be inclined to raise, to her; Sarah Griffice, wife, mother, sister, friend, teacher, giver, warrior, rock, dedicated maker of coffee and cooker of French toast… one damn hell of a woman!