Julia M. “Bitsy” Griffith, 89, Atchison, Kansas died Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at her home.

Funeral services will be Monday, April 10, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with Abbot Barnabas Senecal, OSB officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Monday from 10:00 A.M. until time of services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Benedict Parish and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Bitsy was born June 5, 1927 in Atchison, Kansas the daughter of James and Myrtle Martin Griffith. She attended St. Joseph and St. Benedict Elementary Schools, graduating from Mt. Saint Scholastica Academy. She then attended Highland Community Junior College.

Bitsy was employed with Electra Company in Atchison and then became employed with Holly’s Nursing Home as a social service representative. Following the closing of Holly’s Nursing Home she joined Grace Hollingsworth in the opening of Medicalodge Nursing Home in their social service department and continued with Medicalodge until her retirement in 1982.

She was a member of St. Benedict Parish of Atchison. In her free time of retirement, Bitsy became an avid reader to occupy her time. She formed a relationship with many Benedictine College students who frequently visited in her home.

She is survived by nieces and nephews including Rosemary Gary, Atchison, KS; Kellie King-Baltezor, Lawrence, KS; Barbara Yumang, Wichita, KS; Jim Gary, Leavenworth, KS; and Joe Gary, Leavenworth, KS; and many cousins and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by three sisters, Betty Jane Gary, Jimmie Mae Morphis, Mary JoAnn McCray, two brothers, Bud Griffith and Jack Griffith.