Ellen Griffis

Funeral services for longtime Hulett, Wyoming, resident Ellen Griffis will be held December 22, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Greater Hulett Community Center. Pastor Wayne Wilson of Newcastle, Wyoming will be officiant.

Mary Ellen (Morris) Griffis left this world peacefully on December 12, 2023, at the age of 82. She was born to Glenn and Edna Morris on November 8, 1941.

Ellen was the youngest of six kids. She graduated from Hulett High School in 1960.

Ellen married Gene Griffis on November 25, 1960 and they spent 63 wonderful years loving, annoying and supporting each other. Ellen spent her younger years taking care of their three kids, Chad born in 1962, Karen in 1963 and Doug in 1965.

Her greatest loves aside from Gene were her family, horses, rodeo, dogs, playing cards and leather work. Ellen was a dedicated 4-H leader teaching kids about leather craft, horses and even cooking.

Ellen and Gene worked on several ranches from Buffalo, Wyoming, to Hulett, finally settling on the family ranch up Blacktail Creek. This is where they raised their kids and where Ellen's love for horses grew strong raising a good string of Griffis Gray horses.

Ellen had several jobs during her lifetime, some she got paid for but most she didn't. One job she really did enjoy was working the yard back at St. Onge Livestock.

Ellen spent many years running barrels at rodeos while Gene rode broncs usually taking all three kids along for the ride. One of her rodeo highlights was being named Hulett Rodeo Queen in 1960.

She was also proud of the fact that her daughter and both of her granddaughters followed in her footsteps. Many memories, some good and some best forgotten and many lifelong friends were made.

After they left the ranch, Ellen worked for several years taking money from tourists at the entrance gate of the Devils Tower. She enjoyed telling the more gullible tourists that the elevator to the top of the tower was not working that day.

In Ellen's later years you could often find her playing cards at a pitch tournament some place around Hulett. Ellen wasn't shy about telling you what she thought but her kids, grand kids and even the great grandson always knew that she loved them even if she didn't like them at the time.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Gene Griffis of Hulett; son, Chad (Dee) Griffis of Sundance, Wyoming; daughter, Karen (Mike) Dirks of Hulett; son, Doug Griffis of Gillette, Wyoming; grandchildren: Clinton Griffis of Powell, Wyoming, Jacob (Brianna) Griffis of Powell, Miranda Griffis of Helena, Montana, Megan (Joe) Hawken of Laramie, Wyoming and Ethan Dirks of Billings, Montana; one great-grandson, Carson Hawken of Laramie; one brother, Bob Morris of Buffalo, Wyoming; one brother-in-law, Jerry Griffis of Gillette; and many nieces and nephews.

Ellen was proceeded in death by her parents, Glenn and Edna Morris; her mother and father-in-law, Don and Gladys Griffis; brothers, Bill, Berle and Jack and sister, Ethel Merkley along with their spouses; her sisters-in-law, Jeanette Betterton, Donna Borchgrevink and Patsy Alm along with their spouses. 

Interment will be at Pine Slope Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial.

Online condolences may be written at http://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.