Sergeant 1st Class Jeffrey Kenneth Griffey, age 37, a member of the United States Army for the past 19.5 years, stationed at Fort Bragg, NC died unexpectedly on Friday, December 7, 2012.

Jeff was born on January 28, 1975 in Chicago, IL to Kenneth and Rusty (Agnes A. Moore) Griffey. The Ken Griffey family moved to Michigan, November 1, 1985. Jeff joined the U.S. Army in July of 1993 and completed his basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Hood, MO. He arrived at Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division in 2006, where he served as a senior maintenance noncommissioned officer in charge, platoon sergeant, maintenance supervisor, maintenance control sergeant and motor sergeant. Jeff served on two combat deployments: he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003 to January 2004 and Operation Enduring Freedom from January to October 2007. He was currently serving as an air movement liaison with the 782nd Brigade Support, 4th Brigade Combat Team. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, The Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War of Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, The Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge with Bronze Service Star and the Pathfinder Badge. Jeff was an enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Indian in Green Bay, WI. Jeff was an active member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association – CVMA 15-3 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #4524 of Spring Lake, NC.

Surviving is his wife, Kimberly M. Griffey (Batog); his three children, Clarissa June, Casey Ryan and Jeffrey Cage Griffey, all of Southern Pines, NC; his mum, Rusty Griffey of Byron Center (New Salem), MI; father, Ken Griffey; sister, Heather A. (Doug) Frank of Zeeland, MI; his brother, Bill M. (Cori) Griffey of Richland, MI; two nieces, Kristine Main and Emma Griffey; two nephews, Ryan Lowing and Mikey Griffey; three aunts, four uncles, numerous cousins and a host of friends.

Family will receive friends on Sunday, December 16, 2012 from 2:00PM to 6:00PM at Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service, 375 W. Dickman Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037. The funeral services to celebrate Jeff’s life will be held at the funeral home on Monday, December 17, 2012 at 10AM with Chaplain Colonel Will Henson, officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI with full Military Honors bestowed by the United States Army Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Griffey Children’s Educational Trust Fund, in care of Chemical Bank of Michigan. Friends may send condolences or share a memory at baxterfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service. (269)788-9800

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