Griffin, Garret J.

Garret J. Griffin

July 23, 1996 - October 15, 2010

TERRE HAUTE — DANA — Garret J. Griffin, 14, of Dana, passed away on Friday, Oct. 15, 2010. He was born July 23, 1996, in Terre Haute, to Bill Griffin and Melany Shoopman Griffin, He was a 7th grader at North Vermillion Jr/Sr High School. He loved hunting, 4-wheeler riding, cutting firewood, working on motors, junking and hanging out with his friends.

He is survived by his parents; a brother, Dalton Griffin of Dana; maternal grandmother, Kathy Turner of Montezuma; maternal grandfather, Doug Shoopman of Willow Shade, Ky.; and paternal grandparents, Danny and Rada Griffin of Newport; and two great-grandmothers, Janie Brown of Newport and Alene Shoopman of Willow Shade. He also is survived by aunts and uncles, Joey and Amy Griffin, Josh and Amanda Griffin, Hope and Noah Smith, Vickie Chernyavskaya, Gary Shoopman, Terry and Debbie Shoopman and Bruce Shoopman; and several cousins.

Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today at Brown-Mack Funeral Home, 1072 N. Jefferson St., in Montezuma. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with the Rev. John Hawkins officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.

Valley boy killed in hunting accident

PARKE CO., Ind. (WTHI) - It's obvious even from Garret Griffin's school photo that he loved the

outdoors. The 14-year-old was a 7th grade student at North Vermillion Jr/Sr High School.

"He was a special kid," said Griffin's grandmother Kathy Turner. "He loved the outdoors. I mean you

couldn't hardly keep him in the house ever since he was walking."

Turner said Garret was planning to shoot coyotes using a tripod-style hunting stand in a relative's

cornfield near Montezuma in Parke County Thursday night.

Somehow the gun went off and shot him in the head. Conservation officers believe Garret either fell out of the seat or fell when climbing.

Because his family thought he was staying with another relative, no one realized he was missing until early Friday afternoon. Garret's 14-year-old cousin raced back to the field on an ATV followed by their grandmother.

"As soon as I heard him start up the 4-wheeler coming back, I had a really bad feeling," said Turner.

She immediately called an ambulance but it was hours too late. She still won't go up to the field.

"I think he's taking it pretty rough, pretty hard," said Turner. "I think we are all in shock yet."

Turner will always remember Garret as a little man. Even at 14, fully grown men would get his help to fix power tools. "He could fix it in no time at all," said Turner. "It never mattered how old it was or what, he would fix their lawnmowers, chainsaws. He was really good at that.

But most of all, she will just miss Garret calling her up, asking for a ride to her house, so he could spend time with family in the great outdoors."There's a lot of things I will miss," said Turner. "He will be missed a lot."

Griffin is survived by his mother and father and an older brother.

The family is currently making arrangements for Griffin's funeral. North Vermillion schools are currently on Fall Break. Schools Superintendent Michael Turner said grief counselors will be available for students and staff to speak with on Monday.

Visitation for Garret Griffin will be held Monday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Montezuma. His funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home.