Mary Beth Griggs

Mary Beth Griggs, 69, of Parsons, passed away at 7:19 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at the Parsons Good Samaritan Society.

She was born January 31, 1950 in Parsons, Kansas to Robert James Shea, Jr. and Marietta Sarah (Bisnet) Shea.  Mary Beth grew up in Parsons where she attended elementary school and graduated from Labette County High School in Altamont in 1968.

She then attended Labette Community College, Wichita State University, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Pittsburg State University.

Mary Beth loved working in the Obstetrics Department at Labette Health for many years as a registered nurse.  Later, while living in Joplin, she worked for Oxford HealthCare and then the Education Department of the Freeman Health System until returning to Parsons in 2000 where she worked as a nurse at the Good Samaritan Center until retiring in 2002.   Following her retirement, she moved to Bentonville, Arkansas to be near her daughter.  She returned to Parsons in 2017 to live at the Good Samaritan Center.

Nursing was Mary Beth's passion.  She assisted in the delivery of many babies through the years and took great pride in being a nurse and providing quality care to her patients.  She was a member of the Parsons Foursquare Church.

In 1968, Mary Beth and Jim Ray Griggs were married in Parsons.  They later divorced.

Survivors include:

Her Mother – Marietta Shea of Parsons, KS

One Daughter – Mandi Griggs (Beverly) of Centerton, AR

One Son – Andrew Griggs (Kristen) of Parsons, KS

Five Grandchildren – Taylor Vanderford, Andrew Griggs, Jr., Wesley Griggs, Rebecca Griggs, and Knox Griggs

Five Sisters – Bobbie Shea of Parsons, KS

Gail Searles of Parsons, KS

Patti Bryan of Rogers, AR

Margaret Kennedy (Wayne) of Joplin, MO

Lisa Amadi of Parsons, KS

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert James Shea, Jr., and her brother-in-law, Richard Searles.

Funeral services will be held at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until service time at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Good Samaritan Society.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.