Olive Arden Urie Griffin passed away on Monday, August 22, 2022, at the age of 98. Throughout her almost 99 years of life, she had boundless energy, a quick wit, unshakeable strength, and compassion for her family, friends, community, and nature.

She was born on November 11, 1923, the first child of five to William and Ada Drew Urie, on their family farm in Glover, Vermont. She attended one-room schoolhouses for eight years in Glover and then attended Barton Academy, graduating in 1942. Olive then attended Mary Hitchcock School of Nursing in Hanover, NH, graduating with an R.N. in 1945. While there, she became a Cadet Nurse, committing herself to the armed services. On September 22, 1945, she married her high school sweetheart, Ray Evan Griffin, at East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church.

Olive remained employed at Mary Hitchcock until she settled in Springfield, Vermont, with her husband, where she was employed at the Springfield Hospital. In the fall of 1949, Ray and Olive left Springfield and moved to Burlington, Vermont, where Olive worked at the Mary Fletcher Hospital. While they lived in Burlington, Ray and Olive's three sons, Rodney, Ronald, and Robert, were born.

Olive became a psychiatric nurse at the Rosewood State Training School when she and Ray moved to Baltimore, Maryland, with their three sons in 1953. The family eventually moved back to Vermont in 1957, settling in Saxtons River, where Olive worked as a nurse at Rockingham Memorial Hospital and Vermont Academy. She later worked in her husband's dental office in Bellows Falls as his office manager. While residing in Saxtons River, Ray and Olive's two daughters, Judith and Rebecca, were born.

Olive was a member of Christ's Church and belonged to the Women's Fellowship in Saxtons River. She also took pride in serving as the chair of the Christmas Stocking Bazaar. In the community, she was a leader of the Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts. She later assisted with Hospice, Meals on Wheels, and helped with the transportation of dialysis patients.

When she was in her fifties, Olive earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from St. Joseph the Provider College in Rutland, Vermont. After retirement, Ray and Olive fully immersed themselves in the hobby of birding. They traveled extensively in their camper throughout the lower 48 states, accumulating an impressive list of over 600 North American species.

In 1994, Ray and Olive permanently moved to Tranquility Farm, their vacation home in West Glover, Vermont, where they ran a bed & breakfast for many years. Olive became a member of the West Glover Congregational Church's Willing Workers and also served as a trustee of the Barton Public Library. She was a member of many conservancy and birding groups including the American Birding Association, Ascutney Mountain Audubon, the Northeast Kingdom Audubon, National Audubon, Nature Conservancy, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences.

Olive could often be found working in one of her many beautiful flower beds or bountiful vegetable gardens. She also enjoyed reading, knitting, Sudoku, golf, snowshoeing and skiing. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Ronald Griffin and his partner Trish Cope of McDaniel, Maryland; Robert and Kathy Griffin of Duxbury, Massachusetts; Judy and George McKelvey of Newport, Vermont; and Rebecca Tobey of Belmont, Vermont. She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren and their spouses: Annaliese Griffin and Tom Mylan, Jennie Griffin and Kwang Woo Lee, Lauren Griffin and Jake Loiko, Ben and Sarah Griffin, Adam Griffin, Ellen and Jeff Callahan, Sarah and Matthew Ducas, Meredith McKelvey, Evan and Kim Tobey, Eric and Leah Tobey, and Hannah Tobey. She is also survived by her fifteen great-grandchildren: Lester and Olive Griffin Mylan, Porter and Owen Lee, Stella and Jasper Griffin, Ruby and Everett Loiko (expected in September), Jack and Dorothy Callahan, Avery Tobey, Griffin and Everett Tobey, and Theodore, Griffin, and Natalie Ducas. Survivors also include Olive's sister, Fay Valley of Barton, Vermont, and her sister-in-law, Shirley Urie of Williston, Vermont, as well as Marty Hammond, Pam Hinds, Peter Tobey, Purvish Patel, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; siblings Marion Urie, Alan Urie, and Joyce Hanson; her husband of 69 years, Ray Evan Griffin; and their eldest son, Rodney Griffin.

The family would like to thank Fay Valley for her many delicious meals and warm heart, as well as the staff at Maple Lane for all of their love and care during Olive's time there.

A memorial service will be held on September 3 at 11:00 am at the West Glover Congregational Church (2516 Bean Hill Rd., West Glover, VT 05875) with a private interment at the Andersonville Cemetery prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Olive's memory to the Barton Public Library (100 Church St., Barton, VT 05822), Northeast Kingdom Audubon Society (1302 Main St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819), Glover Ambulance Squad, Inc. (48 County Road, Glover, VT 05875), Orleans Ambulance Squad, Inc. (4394 Barton Orleans Road, Orleans, VT 05860), the West Glover Congregational Church care of Sarah Stevens (16 Davio Place, West Glover, VT 05875) or Maple Lane Nursing Home Activity Fund (60 Maple Lane, Barton, VT 05822).

Please plant some flowers, feed some birds, or enjoy a maple creemee in Olive's memory.  On-line condolences at curtis-britch.com.  Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home, & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.