AVA, William G. McGriff, 82, of Ava, passed away at 9:59 P.M. Monday, August 11, 2008, at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro, IL. He was born August 27, 1925 in West Helena, Arkansas the son of DeWitt T. McGriff and Margaret Eileen(Lichman) McGriff. He married Dorothy Sue Peeples in September of 1952 at St. Louis, MO, she passed away March 30, 1979. Then he married Elizabeth Reed on November 27, 1980 in Batesville, Arkansas. She survives of Ava. He was a retired Prudential Insurance Salesman. He was a member of the Baptist Faith. He served in the Merchant Marines from 1943 to August 7, 1945 and then served in the US Army until June 1953 during WWII as a Boatsman aboard the SS Cheasapeke Capes and at Tokyo Bay for the Japanese Surrender. He also served in the US Army during the Korean conflict having attained the rank of Staff Sgt. and Squad leader. He was a chosen Reservior and was evacuated on Christmas Eve in 1950. He was a lifetime member VFW Post #4353 in Pine Island, FL, a member of Society of the 3rd Infantry Division Outpost 17 and also of Samuel Park Chapter of the Merchant Marine Veteran. In addition to his wife, Elizabeth, he is survived by two sons, Lawrence David (Constance Card) McGriff of Hollister, MO; Michael William (Vicki Lynn) McGriff of St. Louis, MO; four grandchildren, Brandi Lorena (John) Kanyuck, Payton Michael McGriff, Lawrence David (Amy) McGriff, Jr., Laurie DeAnn McGriff; two great grandchildren, Ayden Brea Kamyuck and Abby Elisabeth McGriff; step daughters, Raylene Getts of Willow, Alaska, Julie (Mike) Fulton of Wasilla, Alaska, and Robin Treshman of Willow, Alaska; 7 step grandchildren; 21 step great grandchildren; one sister, Shirley Grady of Little Rock, AR; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his Parents; one brother: DeWitt McGriff; and two step daughters, Teresa Getts and Kendra Goodwin. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. at Wilson's Funeral Home in Ava, Illinois with Rev. Francis Bartley officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, in St. Louis, MO, on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 1:00 pm. Visitation will be held at Wilson's Funeral Home, Ava on Wednesday from 5 pm to 8 pm and on Thursday from 7:30 am until 10:00 am. Memorials may be made to Acitivity Department at VA Hospital in Marion. To sign the guestbook, please visit www.wilsonsfuneralhome.net.