Gene "Griff" Griffith, beloved husband, father, grandfather, colleague, and teacher, died peacefully on June 6th, 2023, at Nancy Hinds Hospice surrounded by his loving family. Gene was born on May 16th, 1938 in Sanger, California, to Mort and Lois Griffith and attended Sanger High School, where he played on four league championship football teams with the Apaches. He also played on the Valley All-Star Football team in 1957, starting on both offense and defense.

On December 22nd, 1961, Gene married Hazel Satterburg of Kingsburg, California and moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he served in the army at Fort Lewis. Upon finishing his service, Gene studied art at Fresno State University, where he graduated in 1963 and began teaching art at Madera High School in 1964.

In 1969, Gene was hired to initiate the pottery program at Clovis High School, where he was a much loved art teacher, commonly known as "Griff," who took a deep interest in the lives and artistic success of his students, many of whom he considered friends. His love for Clovis High School and its students endured until the very end. In 1997 Gene was honored by having the Clovis High School yearbook dedicated to him, but his greatest joy was seeing his students around town, especially recognizing their successes.

Although he was a successful painter and potter, Gene's greatest passion and artistic achievement was his home garden, a beautiful act of landscape art that included lush plants, waterfalls, and handcrafted rockwork. It gave him much peace and contentment. Gene also contributed his gardening prowess to the Clovis Botanical Garden, the Fresno Shinzen Garden, and The Harlan Ranch Architectural Committee, where he planned Harlan Ranch Blvd.

After retirement Gene enjoyed spending time with his wife, Hazel, and his children, Wade and Emelie Soderstrom-Griffith of Boulder, Colorado; Alex and Kristen Habibe of Fresno, California; and Ryan Griffith and Kate Sayre of San Diego, California. He was especially proud of his grandchildren, two sets of twins: Mila and Sierra Griffith and Will and Natalie Habibe. They were engraved in his heart.

Gene will be deeply missed by all those who love him as a Christian, husband, father, grandfather, teacher, and dear friend.

Services will be announced for September.

Remembrances can be sent to Nancy Hinds Hospice or your favorite charity.