Terry Diane Griffith

Terry Diane Griffith, 67, of La Grande, died May 29 at her home surrounded by family and friends. A service will begin at 1 p.m. June 13 at the La Grande First Presbyterian Church.

Terry was born Dec. 13, 1942, in Lakeview to Duncan Campbell Lincecum and Helen Eudell DeYoung Lincecum. Throughout her high school years she worked as an assistant librarian at her local library. After graduating from Lakeview High School in 1961, Terry attended the University of Oregon, earning her bachelor of arts degree in art education in 1966. She took a teaching job in 1966 as art supervisor in Heppner, where she taught K-12 for the next three years.

On June 13, 1969, she married Duane Ira Griffith in Lakeview. "Griff" and his partner, Bob Bagett, started their own surveying company in John Day and Terry spent the next years raising her stepsons, Craig and Bruce. Terry also did a lot of substitute teaching during this time.

They moved to La Grande in January 1971, a move which pleased Terry, who had driven through the Grande Ronde Valley years before and had fallen in love with the area.

Griff taught her the skills of a draftsman and a cartographer and she drew maps for his company for many years. She also worked for Steve Anderson and later for Lynn Steiger as he drafted the local land use plans. One of her maps graces the placard at the top of the tram at Wallowa Lake.

Terry's artistic skills were also utilized in creating Bagett-Griffith's first business logo. She did freelancing on other local business logos and designs, and in 1978 she branched out on her own with her graphic design company, Lincecum Graphic Design. Some of her most memorable works include the 1985 La Grande Centennial logo of Cast Iron Mary, and the La Grande Main Street Association logo. But the pride of her artistic life was the oil portrait of her husband Griff she did in 1976.

Terry was enchanted by the story of Madame Dorion, the Indian wife of Pierre Dorion who came to this valley with the Wilson-Price-Hunt party seeking an overland route for John Jacob Aster.

Terry thoroughly researched this matriarch's courageous story, and did live re-enactments of Madame Dorion for organizations and events throughout the years.

Terry was active in community programs and boards including Soroptimist International, which she joined in 1967, Union County Chamber of Commerce, La Grande Downtown Association, American Association of University Women, American Business Women's Association, Sigma Kappa at the University of Oregon, the Union County Art Guild and charter member of the La Grande Arts Commission. She was named Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1972 and honored as one of only two female artists in the nation recognized as outstanding scrimshaw artists.

Terry was preceded in death by her husband, Griff, on Jan. 1, 2002, after 33 1/2 years of marriage. She is survived by her step-sons, Craig and wife, Nancy, of Beavercreek, Bruce and Nancy of Brookings, and Randy and Marcy-Jo of Molalla; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; sister, Lorraine Laird of Plush; and many other relatives.

Memorial contributions may be made to La Grande Soroptimist Foundation, First Presbyterian Church or Friday Backpack Program.

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