Lavern Jack Griffis, 80, of North Platte died June 15, 2001, at the V.A. Medical Center in Omaha.

He was born March 22, 1921, in Farnam to Syrenus and Edith Lavina Richardson Griffis. He grew up in the Christian Children's Home at Holdrege. He attended school at the home and Holdrege High School. He worked in a Conservation Corps Camp and then joined the U.S. Navy in February 1944. He was discharged in July of 1946.

He then moved to North Platte and began working for the Denver-Chicago Trucking Company. In 1956 he went to work for the Navajo Freight Line and retired April 1, 1978.

On July 6, 1946, he married Lillian Elmira Jackson at Phillipsburg, Kan., and they lived in North Platte.

He was a member of the Swedish Evangelical Church at Holdrege and the Eagles 2839.

Mr. Griffis is survived by four sons, Lavern Edward and Robert Dean, both of North Platte, Ronald Gene (Debra) of Iowa City, Iowa, and Kendall Ray of Layton, Utah; two brothers, Floyd (Ardyce) Griffis of Kaysville, Utah, and Clayton (Ada) Griffis of Tonawanda, N.Y.; six grandchildren, Stacey, Bradley, Chad, Robert, Jeremy and Blayne; and four great-grandchildren, Robynn, Blaze, Layne and Wayde.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Frances Wilkinson; two brothers, Clifford and Carl Griffis; and a half brother, Johnny Griffis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell with the Chaplain Norval Holtmeier of the American Legion PR Halligan Post 163 officiating.

There will be no visitation. Those wishing to sign the memorial book may do so from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel in North Platte or before the service Wednesday at the cemetery.

The North Platte Telegraph