Christine Griffey Pugh, 92, of Liberty, MO, passed away on September 8, 2005 at Monterey Nursing Center. She was born on November 20, 1912 to P.J. Griffey and Elveria Raines of Elkhorn, MO. Her family moved to Liberty when she was still in grade school. After graduating from Liberty High School, she enrolled at William Jewell College. Five years after graduation in May of 1938, she was united in marriage to Dr. U.R. Pugh, a professor at William Jewell College. Christine taught at Liberty High School in the English Department for 25 years. She was known for her passion for English grammar and her insistence that her students master grammar both in the oral and written form. She was an active member of Second Baptist Church, the Woman's Missionary Union, and the choir. She often served fresh fudge to students, family and friends. Christine was a leader in Daughters of the American Revolution, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Magna Carta Society, Dames of the Seventeenth Century, and the Liberty Historical Society besides others. Christine loved to read, shop and enjoyed entertaining friends and family. She was a world traveler, master cook and avid card player. She continued to teach grammar to visitors and friends and was a strong supporter of William Jewell. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. U.R. Pugh and a granddaughter, Annette Carnahan of New York City, NY. Survivors include her daughter, Margaret Carnahan and husband Dwight of Independence, MO, and son, John Pugh and wife Connie Sunday of Portales, NM. Grandchildren are Renee and Jerome Freers, Independence, MO and Christy and Leonard Vandenberg of Portales, NM. Great Grandchildren are Damon, Jacob and Logan Freers of Independence, MO and Cory Vandenberg of Portales, NM. Visitation will be held at ChurchArcher-Pasley Funeral Home on Monday, September 12 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on September 13 at 10 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, 309 E. Franklin, Liberty, MO. Burial will be at New Hope Cemetery in Liberty. Contributions can be made to the U.R. Pugh Scholarship Fund at William Jewell College, 500 College Hill, Liberty, MO 64068. (Arr; ChurchArcher-Pasley Funeral Home, 119 E. Franklin, Liberty, MO, 816-781-2000).
Published in the Kansas City Star on 9/11/2005.