Evelyn Vail Griffin

Evelyn Vail Morris Griffin, 93, of  Storrs, died on Sunday, Nov 10, 2019. She was born on April 11, 1926 in Cambridge, MA, daughter of William and Ella Morris. She was predeceased by four siblings, Ruth, Florence, Warren and John(Jack).  She is survived by her three children; Jodie (and her husband Scott) Stevens, of Vernon, CT,  Jan (wife of John, deceased) Gentry, of Beaufort, SC, and Jon Griffin, of Eastham, MA.  Evelyn has seven grandchildren, Katie Stevens, Jessica Hernandez (Juan Hernandez), Megan Gentry, Erin Vaux (Tabor Vaux), Kyle Gentry (Brandi Gentry), Brianna Romme' (William Romme') , and Cody Griffin.  She has 16 great grandchildren: Bradley, Madsion, Miya, Aubrey, Aniya, Kylie, Beau, Roberts, Ella, Everly, Abrahm, Rylan, Camden, Joanie, Cadence and Mateo.  Let it be know her favorite grand child or great grandchild was Tobey, Jon's small black dog and even in the nursing home, Tobey took precedence!

Evelyn worked her way through high school employed at a local candy store and always told us about all the handsome service men who came in.  She was also able to tell us the names of each chocolate by the markings on the top. Following high school, she trained at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston and graduated as a Registered nurse. Following graduation, she stayed on worked as a clinical instructor at Deaconess. In 1951, she entered the Air Force as a First Lieutenant. She was a year in New York State and two years in England which included a semester at Cambridge University. Her active duty during the Korean War was while she was in England. She was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. Her total service to the Air Force (active and reserve) was 8 years. 
 
In 1954 she met Griff (Harold) while working at Camp Robin Hood in New Hampshire.  She was the camp nurse and Griff was Head Riding Instructor.  In 1955 they were married and moved to Texas to start their new life together "far from both sets of parents"!  Two years later with two babies, they moved to Connecticut where Griff worked as a professor in the accounting department at the University of CT.  Evelyn worked many years at Student Registration on campus.  She also worked as Dr. Gilman's nurse and at E.O. Smith High School as the school nurse.  She was an avid reader and bridge player. She loved her flowers and  gardens.  She and Griff spent summers on Cape Cod and time in Englewood Florida in the winters.
 

Evelyn was a two time breast cancer survivor.   She participated 8 years at the Relay for Life, both locally and on the Cape when her daughter in law was diagnosed with breast cancer.  The family was touched each and every time she walked.  She also volunteered her time for other Breast Cancer events at the University of CT.
She was loved by her children and grandchildren and will be missed.   

The family wishes to thank the Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehab for all the care and kindness they provided to our mother.  They are truly an exemplary home.  

A Memorial service will be Saturday, Nov 16, 2019 at St. Mark’s Chapel in Storrs at 1:00 PM. A reception at the church will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY, 10036.
 

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