Gerre Griggs

GERRE A. GRIGGS (nee Copp), aged 62 years, beloved wife of (Ret.) U.S. Navy Cdr. Michael S. (deceased), dearest mother of Jennifer Mericle (husband Josh), loving grandmother of Colton Ryan Mericle, devoted daughter of Carl and Alice (nee Turner) Copp, cherished sister of Linda Sheffield (husband Allen), Thomas Copp (wife Sheila) and Charles Copp (wife Yvette), treasured daughter-in-law to Edna and the late John Griggs, caring sister-in-law to Gerald, Ann and the late Ralph Griggs, fond aunt and great-aunt.

Gerre’s family has many fond memories of her life. Her Dad remembers her as being very positive. She was a loving and respectful daughter. Gerre’s birth at St. Albans Hospital in Long Island, New York on December 15, 1953 was announced in a telegram from her Mom to her Dad in Japan (he was serving in the Marines). Early family memories of Gerre involve her swinging at the park in Fleetwood and taking over the new riding lawnmower in Chappaqua, NY – she always was in charge of cutting the grass.

At Simsbury High School in Connecticut she read her graduation speech in front of the whole graduation class of over 400 students. Another memory is of Gerre when she first got her driver’s license, driving away from the gas station with the fuel hose still in the gas tank – ripped out the hose from the pump – gas going everywhere. The first car she bought was a 1972 Yellow Fiat.

After high school Gerre attended Fashion Design School at Tobe Coburn in New York City. She left home, going to Miami Florida for her first job after graduation as a buyer at Burdines. Gerre went on wonderful vacations to Belize, Hawaii and the Caribbean.

Gerre met her husband Michael while he was an Aircraft Pilot in the Navy. They had a beautiful military wedding in Jacksonville, Florida. They moved to the cold – Cleveland, (Gates Mills) – no one ever thought she would leave the warm weather of Florida.

There are also wonderful childhood and adult memories of summers in Cape Cod, Massachusetts at the beach, bonfires and diving for clams. Gerre’s best friends in High School were Tracy Knust and Susie Booth! She was a great fisherman.

The memories of the birth of her daughter Jennifer – the light of her life – getting to see her graduate from Miami of Ohio University, participating in her wedding and getting to spend time with her grandson Colton this

In keeping with Gerre’s love for animals, contributions are suggested to any A.S.P.C.A. Please meet at 11 AM Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery (Seville, OH) for Committal Services starting promptly at 11:15 AM. Family will receive friends to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Gerre at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just East of Green Rd.) SATURDAY AFTERNOON OCT. 1, FROM 2-4 PM.