Arliss Vareen Griffin

Arliss was born December 13, 1934 in Coffee County, GA. He spent his childhood and early adulthood there before coming to Jacksonville, FL, where he would remain for the rest of his life. He found a job at Perdue Office Machines where he continued to work until 1971 where he helped start Bennett’s Office Products. He remained at Bennett’s until he retired at 1992.

Arliss had many passions throughout his life. Many hours were spent in his garage as he tinkered with pretty much anything, most especially motorcycles and then Go-Karts. For many years every Saturday was spent at the Go-Kart track with son Ashley, and after Ashley became too old for go-karts, he adopted others that he helped along the way. He and Ashley also did race-cars for a time, resulting in a first place finish. He was a perfectionist and worked hard to be the best and to help those whom he worked with to be the best also.

Once he retired from work, it was time for travel. During a span of ten years he set foot in the entire 50 states. His first trip was by plane, but he decided that he liked carrying his home with him, so all of the rest of the states were traveled by camper. He most especially loved the western part of the states, but his and Joyce’s ultimate trip was the 3 month trek to the state of Alaska. He also loved the mountains of North Carolina, spending vacations there with his family for many years, and resulting in having a second home there from 1991 to 2002.

Arliss loved old time country music and bluegrass music. He even got on the iTunes bandwagon and spent hours searching for and downloading the music that he liked. For over 20 years, it became a tradition that twice a year, he and his daughter Wendy and family went to the Withlacoochee Bluegrass Festival, where they camped and enjoyed his type of music. Even as the dynamic of the families changed, they all kept coming until sadly the Festival closed down. Of all his passions, family was the number one. In the beginning he worked hard to provide a good life for his wife and children, vacations were always a special time, and unbeknownst to them, worth the sacrifices that he made to make sure that memories were made. It got better as life progressed, because along came grandchildren, whom he adored and they adored him. He spoiled them mercilessly with his time and love. In his later years, it even got better as there were great-grandchildren, whom he continued to spoil with his time and love. Golf-kart rides, junk that just made the best toys and marshmallows of course were Grandpa trademarks.

Arliss was predeceased by his 1st wife of 32 years, Louise, and just nine months ago, his son Ashley. He is survived by his daughter Wendy Bunk and Son-In-Law Dean, his 2nd wife of 28 years, Joyce, his daughter-in-law Debi Griffin, five grandchildren: Amanda Sizemore (Joseph), Melissa Farnsworth (Bryan), Bobby Griffin (Elizabeth), Dana Capehart (Jamie), and Lindsey Griffin; five great-grandchildren, Hailey, Dena, Clayton, Alexis and Addison, along with many extended family and many friends that he considered family.

Visitation will be held Thursday night March 2, 2017 from 6 to 8 pm at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 729 Edgewood Ave. S., Jacksonville, FL 32205. Services will begin at 10 am, Friday, March 3, 2017 at the funeral home. Interment will follow that afternoon at 3:30 pm at Vickers Rural Cemetery, Coffee County, GA 31512. Arrangements are under the care of Hardage-Giddens, 729 Edgewood Ave. S., Jacksonville FL 32205.