Mary Jane Griffee Minkler of Prescott, Arizona peacefully passed away on February 10, 2025 at the age of 95. Mary was born in 1929 to Milton L. and Dorothy L (Jones) Griffee in Storm Lake, Iowa. At the age of eight, after her mother passed away, Mary went to live with her Grandmother Elizabeth Griffee for 5 years in Gowrie, Iowa and then moved to Cherokee to live with her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Ray Colwell.
She attended Cherokee Wilson High School for 3 years then moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa for her senior year, graduating in 1947. She received her Associate of Arts degree from Yavapai College in Prescott in 1979 at the age of 50.
While living in Cherokee, Mary worked as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell Telephone for 15 years. She belonged to the Cherokee Community Theater, was a member of the Carnation Chapter of Eastern Star and attended St. Paul Methodist Church.
In 1968 she married the love of her life and best friend Lyle F. Minkler after only knowing each other for a few weeks. It was love at first sight. In 1969 they moved their combined families from San Diego to Prescott, Arizona to begin their new life together that lasted 54 wonderful happy years.
Mary spent the next 21 years working for Yavapai County, first in the Board of Supervisors Office and then for the County Engineering Department as a right-of-way specialist.
Mary retired in 1997 and began the next chapter of her life traveling all over the United States with Lyle. Soon after retirement they bought a winter home in Orange Beach, Alabama where they spent many happy winters.
Mary really enjoyed listening to music. She loved music so much just listening to it would bring tears to her eyes. Her favorite hymn was “This is My Father’s World”. She loved traveling, hiking, birding, reading, and shopping for bargains. Mary cherished her family and friends and especially loved spending time with them.
Mary is survived by her son Brian Mann (companion Joan), stepdaughter Lynn Duke (David), stepsons Lyle F. Minkler, II (companion Mary), Mike Minkler (Sylvia), and Steve Minkler, sisters Sally Bevington and Lois Christensen (Joe), brother Bill Griffee (Sue), 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and many special nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her beloved husband Lyle, parents Milton and Dorothy Griffee, Aunt and Uncle Rachel and Ray Colwell, son Chuck Mann, daughter-in-law Gwen Mann, sister Betty Shorey, and brothers Jack Colwell and Bill Colwell.
Mary wanted to convey this final message to her loved ones:
There is humor to be found in all aspects of life, even after death. Remember me as someone who enjoyed her life and those that she was fortunate to know and be close to. Each change in the road in my course of life brought me to a more complete and happy time. As I have always said, “Into each life a little rain must fall. But then the sun comes out again!”
At Mary’s request there be no services held in Prescott. Her son Brian will be having a small service for her at Spring Lake in Cherokee, Iowa on Mary’s birthday. The date, time and location will be announced at a later date.
