OBITUARY

Lee Griffith was born Alethea Lee Gollogher on September 23rd, 1929 to Harvey and Maude Gollogher in Taylorville, Illinois. Her family soon moved to Colorado where she would fall in love with the West. She had a passion for singing and dancing, performing with Big Bands like Del Courtney from age 8 into her 20’s. She graduated from the Colorado Women’s College and married the Love of her life BJ Griffith soon after he returned from volunteer service during the Korean Conflict. They welcomed 4 children over the coming years. Once settled in Steamboat Springs Colorado, Lee was hired to run the Steamboat Chamber Reservation Office where she created a new kind of reservation system. Her system would later become known as the Central Reservation System (CRS) and was utilized globally. She even acquired a CDL but couldn’t get a credit card in her own name until she was in her 50’s. When her children discovered a passion for rafting she excitedly moved to Moab to help with reservations and accounting in the budding Sheri Griffith River Expeditions.

Lee loved being on the river, taking extended whitewater rafting trips well into her 70’s. She was still running her bookkeeping business and singing with Moab’s Valley Voices at 95 years old.

Lee traveled the world. Rivers, roads, trails, rails, air, and oceans. She was always up for an adventure. Her spirit of open mindedness, understanding, and respect for all walks of life and cultures fit right in with traveling and her readiness for this next adventure.

Born with Rickets, Lee's life was filled with struggles and setbacks. Many would say Lee saw the world through Rose Colored glasses and she sure did. She would paint over the gray of it all with her own color palette. Finding ways to be grateful and grow from every experience, never letting hard things keep her down long. No one is perfect and Lee is a shining example of why it matters to never stop working to better yourself and the world around you. She would pause while climbing the ladder she had built for herself to reach down and invite others to climb it with her. She inspired her family to blaze their own paths and light the way for others through compassionate leadership. All of her children started their own businesses inspiring some of her grandchildren to do the same. Teaching that the risk is worth taking especially in yourself. From entrepreneurs to an aspiring astrophysicist she supported them all to pursue their passions and showed them how to mold setbacks into better growth. She would tell you she had a blessed life. Following significant losses she turned her grief into fuel to help others. She touched so many lives and nurtured so many hearts. May we all try to embody Lee’s way of Loving, Lifting and Lighting the way.

She passed away ever so peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 23rd, 2025. In her passing she rejoins her loving husband BJ Griffith, sister Lila Swallow, oldest son Duane Griffith and many loved ones. She leaves behind her children Sheri Griffith, Mark Griffith (Beth), and Ron Griffith (Kate). 8 Grandchildren: Tracey Rowley, Christi Griffith, Stephanie Griffith (Austin), Jessica Griffith, Chris Griffith (Laura), Brent Griffith (Morgan), and Tanyon Griffith. She was further blessed with 7 Great Grandchildren: Paige, Ashlyn, Sophie, Mila, Grayson, AJ, Tucker and Quinn. She had many dear friends who became honorary family. Lee was an active member of The Moab Community Church, becoming a member of the Deaconess Board in 2017 at age 88. Lee’s Celebration of Life was held on January 25th, 2025 there in her beloved church. It was Lee’s request that any who wish to donate in her memory please do so to either of her favorite charities: The Benevolence Fund of the Moab Community Church and Moab Solutions.

Family and friends are invited to share tributes online at SpanishValleyMortuary.com or SVMC.us.

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