MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. – James Edward “Ed” Griswold, 71, of Mountain Home, Ark., formerly of Oregon, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013.

Ed was born Nov. 14, 1941, in Rockford, the son of James E. and Ruth (Clark) Griswold. He graduated from Oregon High School in 1960. Ed formerly was married to Blenda Jillane Hansen in 1962. They were married for 12 years and had five wonderful children together. Ed worked as a maintenance man, mechanic for Swift Packing Co. for 21 years until the plant closed, and he transferred to Omaha, Neb. for a short period of time. He then returned to Oregon, to continue working at what then was called Dubuque Packing Co. for 19 years. When Ed retired, he remained on the family farm until moving in 2010 to Mountain Home. He enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, feeding birds in his backyard, and going to stores, always looking for a thrifty bargain. He was a very kind, devoted, compassionate, fun-loving person with a unique sense of humor and a volume of stories. To many in the family, he was known affectionately as “The Boogie Man,” who always had a pocket full of hard candies to hand out to the grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Ed is survived by sons, Phil (Dawn) Griswold of Dixon, Ron (Jane) Griswold of Nachusa, and Matt (Lisa O’Riley) Griswold of Phoenix; daughters, Chris (Jeff) Bredeson of Chana and Jennifer (Steve) Osborne of Winnebago; grandchildren, Colin and Logan Griswold, Tyler (Jennifer Bardon) Griswold, Laney (Matt Donoho) Griswold, Jonathon Bredeson, Emma and Ethan Sassaman, and Olivia Osborne; great-grandchildren, Carter Pendergrass, Aleena Griswold, and Valhalla Donoho; brother, William (Shirley) Griswold of Winnebago; sister, Viola (Vern) Garver of Bull Shoals, Ark.; his dedicated lifetime partner of 33 years, Mary Ann Tabor of Mountain Home; plus many nieces and nephews.