Lori Jean Griffith

Lori Griffith, 52, passed away Tuesday, August 14 at her Cashmere home after a long and valiant four-year battle with cancer. Lori was born in Spokane on January 22, 1960 to Milton and Charlene Sannes. Lori graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1978 and proceeded to receive her degree in Business from Washington State University ('82). At WSU she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority and met her future husband John Griffith of Cashmere, whom she married on November 12, 1983. Together they made their first home in Wenatchee where John worked as a consultant in the tree fruit industry and she was a member of the original staff of Eastern Washington Savings and Loan. In 1985 she was elected as president of the East Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce, where she helped organize the first Classy Chassis parade. After working in banking for several years she was hired as Marketing Director for Group W Cable. In this capacity she appeared on air, promoting special Disney and HBO programming. Longing to be a business owner, she started a retail sporting goods store called "The Skate Lady" and later renamed "Hockey Plus" in the old Wenatchee ice rink as well as an outlet in Kennewick. She continued to own and operate these stores even after the birth of their daughter, Leah, in March of 1991. She eventually sold her interest in the retail stores so she could devote her full time to raising Leah. She always had a love of houses and real estate, and in finding that she could not stay away from the professional world, she began gaining experience by working for Washington Mutual in their appraisal department. She later became a certified Real Estate Appraiser in 1998 and opened her own real estate appraising business called "Cascade Site Services, LLC", which she ran until she retired last year, due to her illness. Lori was a charismatic and caring woman who was loved dearly by everyone who knew her. She put great effort and passion into everything she did, most of all in her occupation as a mother and wife. Her unending determination and spirit despite unfortunate odds have made a lasting impression on those around her and have inspired many. She is preceded in death by her father, Milton Sannes. She is survived by her husband John, daughter Leah, mother Charlene Sannes of Spokane, brother Mark (Sandi) Sannes of Spokane Valley, sister Diane (Jay) Draper of Kennewick, and sister Jill (Stephan Reckie) Ross of Golden, CO. Her family would like to thank Dr. Mandy Robertson, Celeste, and all the infusion nurses at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center; as well as Central Washington Hospital's Hospice team, namely Michele Church. A memorial service will be held at Cashmere United Methodist Church on Saturday August 25th at 10:00 am with a reception to follow at the Monitor United Methodist Church. Those wishing to sign Lori's online memorial book may do so at www.heritagememorialchapel.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Heritage Memorial Chapel. Memorial donations in Lori's name can be made to Cashmere Schools Foundation.

Lori Jean Griffith

January 22, 1960 - August 14, 2012