Connie Marie Griggs

Connie Marie Coleman Griggs 

Connie Marie Coleman Griggs, age 88, of Odessa passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family and friends on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 10:35 am.

Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Odessa.

Her life and legacy will be celebrated Thursday, November 21st, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Highland United Methodist Church with Pastor Jon Hendricks officiating. Burial will follow alongside her husband at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home.

Connie was born September 23, 1936 in Wichita, Kansas. She was the first child of James Gordon and Dorothy Eulene (Parton) Coleman. Her family relocated from Wichita, Kansas to El Paso then Fort Stockton. While she was a Junior in high school, her family moved from Fort Stockton to Odessa. Connie graduated from Odessa High School in 1954 and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1958 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. While attending Texas Tech, she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She married the love of her life, Albert Leon Griggs, on December 28, 1957. They shared 40 wonderful years together until his passing on November 21, 1998.

Connie began her teaching career in Kermit in 1958. She joined her husband in Babenhausen, Germany while he was serving in the United States Army from 1959-1961 and taught English as a Second Language. Upon returning to the United States, she and her husband relocated to Uvalde, Texas where she taught Head Start for the Uvalde Independent School District. In 1968, she and her husband relocated to Odessa where he became co-owner of Odessa Metals, Inc. 

She relished her role of wife, mother and friend. She reveled in the role of motherhood, embracing each day with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as a cherished gift. Friends and family will always remember her love for her family, generosity, sharp wit and delightful sense of humor.

Connie is preceded in death by her husband, Albert Leon Griggs and parents, James Gordon Coleman and Dorothy Eulene (Parton) Coleman. She is survived by her children; son, Bert Griggs and wife, Laura, of San Angelo; daughter, Gayle Griggs Fuqua of Kermit; and son, Steven Griggs and wife, Amy, of Spring; grandson, Jayden Fuqua and wife, Jettin, of San Antonio; granddaughter, Conlee Fuqua Carrasco and husband, Adrian, of Lubbock; granddaughter, Katelyn Grosse and husband, Tanner, of Roundrock; great-granddaughter, Audree Carrasco; great-grandson, Jericho Fuqua; brother, Jimmy Coleman and wife, Cindy, of Lubbock; sister, Janice Falkenberg and husband, Leland, of Knippa; sister-in-law, Joyce McLemore, of Odessa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express special thanks to Connie’s caregivers, Betty Gray and Fedencia Branch, for their unwavering care and support. She will be greatly missed and her memory will always be carried in our hearts forever.