William Hudson Griffies, 90, of Tacoma Washington sadly passed away on August 26, 2023, after
a prolonged struggle with dementia.

Bill was born to Gayle and William Hudson II on 2/2/1933 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  He was raised by his grandmother, Granny, while his mother, Gayle, achieved a pioneering milestone as the first woman to graduate from the University of Arkansas Law School. He was also very close to his Uncle Gladney's, both physicians, with a farm in Homer, Louisiana--a place that kindled his lifelong passion for hunting and fishing.

After graduating from Louisiana State University in 1955, he joined the AirForce as an officer in
the Office of Special Investigation (OSI). He did two tours in Vietnam and afterwards went back
to law school at the University of Houston, and after graduating continued in the Judge Advocate
General's (JAG) Corps. After 20 years of military service (retired Lt. Colonel), he had a brief time
in private practice before he was elected as the Pierce County Prosecutor in Tacoma, Washington.
Following his term as prosecutor, he was called to Washington DC by Sen. Slade Gorton where
he served a vital role on the Senate Intelligence Committee in the 1980s. Following this position,
he retired to his cabin in the Cascades outside of Packwood, Washington with his loving wife,
Donna Erickson Griffies, and a wonderful group of friends.

Bill is remembered by his family and friends as always living life large. He was an active hunter
and fisherman, and every weekend was filled with early mornings of coffee, eggs, bacon and
biscuits as men, boys and dogs gathered in the dark before dawn. He was an avid gourmet cook,
who relished sharing fish, game, and home-grown vegetables with family and friends during long
meals. He traveled extensively, especially with his position in the Senate intelligence committee.
He was extremely well read, intelligent, and prone to strong opinions and the telling of wonderful
stories involving many belly laughs. He loved the outdoors, the ocean, the mountains and living
in the Northwest.

Bill is survived by his wife of 23 years, Donna Erickson; his three sons, Scott (Sophia)
Griffies MD, Mark (Janice) Griffies DDS, Stephen (Adi) Griffies PhD, and their mother Jean Griffies. He is also survived by  grandchildren Brandy, Chris, Elizabeth, and Francisco; seven great grandchildren, and his sister, Katie (Jerry) Pontz Chidgey.  He was preceded in death by his brother Andrew Pontz and his stepdaughter Robin Erickson.