Ra June Griffith (84) of Effingham

Ra June Griffith, 84, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Heartland Senior Living in Neoga, IL.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham with Pastor Van Brooks officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Effingham. Please wear a mask for all services and practice social distancing guidelines.

Memorials may be made to New Hope Church of Effingham, IL. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Ra June was born on August 18, 1937, and lived in Wolf Lake, IL. She was the daughter of Faye and Harold Miller. She married John Phillip Griffith in 1955, and he preceded her in death on January 19, 1999.

Ra June was always very involved with her church and loved the Lord. She played the accordion and the piano a good deal when she was younger and many times at church. Ra June had a very good voice and sang at her church as well as on radio ads. Another of her loves was riding horses on the farm. She had a loving mother and father as well as family and friends she spent time with near the farm in Southern Illinois.

She and Phil Griffith had three sons, John, Joel, and Tim Griffith all of Effingham, IL. Her family was dear to her and she took great care of her boys and loved her entire family very much. She had a special bond with father Harold Miller, whom she always called Daddy, that stayed with her for all her days. She dearly loved her time spent with all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Much of those times were spent with family in the backyard and at her pond swimming, laughing and cooking for whomever showed up.

She always worked outside the home and spent many years (30) working at Crossroads Press in Effingham. Ra June worked in different capacities while at Crossroads Press ending with her work as floor supervisor of the bindery department. Even with all the long hours and overtime at work she never neglected her family. She made many great friends working there who she stayed in touch with after her retirement. Many of those friends were also a part of her Red Hat Ladies Club after retirement. These ladies gathered regularly for meals and just fun times that were special to Ra June.

Ra June worked on the truck farm that she and Phil ran named Griffith Gardens. She would work a full-time job and then during farming season would work helping to raise vegetables and strawberries to sell on a roadside stand and at local grocery stores. When Phil started his insurance agency in 1982 Ra June assisted him in the office as she was able between her other duties. After retirement at Crossroads she worked for her son John at Griffith Insurance for several years. She always had a lot of energy and a positive attitude. Life was not easy for her however she always said life is about as good as you decide to make it.

Ra June was a member of the Effingham Garden Club and enjoyed tennis when younger. She loved gospel music and played piano and sang for pleasure. Ra June also knitted and truly liked to read. She and Phil enjoyed camping with the family and traveled to do so in IL, MO, KY, TN, and as far as Virginia. Many people may remember her from always being in the garden and then later in life on the mower a good deal of the time in summers waving to folks going to the Effingham Country Club.

Ra June was a member of New Hope Church of Effingham and spent many years attending and serving there. She also had great friends she attended Sunday School with in the O.A.S.I.S. Class (Older Adults Still In Service.)

She was and is loved by her sons and the entire family and a large group of friends. To say she will be missed is an understatement. We only can tolerate her not being with us knowing she is in Heaven celebrating with her family and praising her Lord and Savior.              `

Ra June is survived by her sons, John Bruce Griffith (wife, Shellie), Joel Wayne Griffith (wife, Rhonda), and Timothy Allen Griffith (wife, Cathy) all of Effingham; grandchildren, Brandy Santus, Joshua Griffith, Bridgett Welter, Cole Griffith, John Everett, Gavin Griffith, Sean Griffith, and Leah Griffith; and great-grandchildren, Jasper Everett, Hannah Everett, Christopher Griffith, Nathaniel Griffith, Malakai Griffith, Gage Griffith, Everly Griffith, Aubrey Griffith, Luke Griffith, Kyra Griffith, Vivyona Vaultonburg, Kiersten Gehring, Brenner Gehring, Braxtyn Gehring, Brock Santus, Brady Santus, Charlie Santus, Alexander Griffith, Shalyn Griffith, Graclyn Griffith, and Gahrett Griffith.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and granddaughter, Christina Griffith.