Robert Michael Griffin, 89, son of Roland and Alice Griffin of Newton, Utah, died on September 15, 2016. Mike served in the South Pacific in the Navy during the last days of WWII. He married his high school sweetheart, Cleo Skinner, on October 3, 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had eight children, Sherry Johnson (Darwin, deceased), Dan (Janis), Roland (Michelle), Wendy Bourne (Rob), Lynnette Jones (Morris, deceased), Jay R (Connie, deceased), Brett (deceased), and Jannell (deceased). Siblings are Harlow (deceased (Pauline, deceased), Alice Mae (Mark Short deceased), Doug (Margaret), Phyllis (Vince Jorgensen), and Terry (Sue). Mike worked for the Utah State Road for 25 years and farmed on the side. When his youngest daughter graduated from high school, he took up his life-long passion for training thoroughbred race horses full time, winning 150 races in the Western United States. He has 23 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 12:00 noon, with visiting hours from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Newton Ward Church. The family requests those attending the viewing and funeral refrain from wearing perfumes or scented products. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Newton Town Library, PO Box 578, Newton Utah 84327, as Mike spent many hours helping his wife establish the Library. Funeral directors are Allen-Hall Mortuary. Condolences and memories may be shared online at
www.allenmortuaries.net