Denise Renee Griffith Simons: Remembered for Her Boundless Love and Generosity

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Denise Renee Griffith Simons
7/21/1966 – 11/9/2025

Our Beautiful Angel, Denise Renee Griffith Simons age 59 of Redway, CA passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at Providence St. Joseph Hospital after a courageous 15-month battle with lung cancer. She was surrounded with love, family, and friends. She was able to spend her last 2 days saying goodbye to numerous loved ones, including around 30 goodbye phone calls.

Deni (Denny) as she was called by family and friends was born on July 21, 1966, at Redwood Memorial Hospital. She was the second child of David Griffith Sr and Zemona Fuell Griffith, joining big brother, David Jr.

Denise grew up in Rio Dell and lived her whole life in Humboldt other than 9 months of living in Utah while in the 8th grade. She graduated from Rio Dell Elementary School in 1980 and Fortuna High School in 1984.

After high school, Deni married Kevin Waters and they welcomed her oldest son, Kevin Wayne Waters on November 10, 1985. After Deni and Kevin divorced she met Mark Johnson and they welcomed her only daughter, Patricia LeeAnn Johnson on November 25, 1988, and her youngest son Justin David Johnson on March 20, 1990. In 1995 she met Dan Simons, later married and raised her kids together. They hosted many family gatherings in their beautiful home and yard throughout the years.

Deni will be remembered for her kindness, love of gardening, cooking and devotion to family. Known as Nene to her nieces, nephews, and 2nd cousins whom she loved having at her house in Holmes Flat. She taught them to cook, bake, garden at night, snail hunting, and chasing possums after dark on quads. Nene also let them take the truck down the flat and up the avenue to Redcrest store since 13 years old (something their parents did not know about for a few years).

Deni devoted her life to her grandsons born 6 days apart in 2011, August and Liam. She had them at every opportunity and they learned to love garage shopping with her. Deni’s generous and loving nature led her to raise her grandson Guss since he was a toddler. She later became a foster parent for Guss’s brother Cyder (already his Grammy by heart). She continued fostering for Charlotte, Kayden, Jolene and Marshall, while being caregiver for Dona.

Deni’s greatest dream when she grew up was to be a mom and homemaker. The only thing that brought her more joy than motherhood was being a Grammy to her boys. Deni always worked outside of the home (mostly for Aunt Ruby) but that never stopped her from being an amazing homemaker. At 19, Deni spent many hours sewing Connie a cherished and beautiful white satin and pink lace gown for prom. She was an amazing cook and baker. She took great satisfaction in her yard and gardening (and house plants). Deni was proud of the things she taught herself, becoming self-sufficent around the house. Her house was always decorated beautifully, and you could feel the love she put into her home. The hardest part about her having cancer and going through treatment was that she no longer had the energy to cook. Deni loved to crochet, and she tried so hard to get all of her loved one’s an afghan done before her neuropathy got too bad for her to finish them. Casey spent a week with her Nene giving Patricia a week off. Casey was able to learn a couple of Nene’s best recipes and how to crochet.

Denise is survived by her loving children, Kevin & Angelina Waters, Trish Johnson and Justin Johnson. Her father, David Griffith Sr. Grandsons Liam Waters, August Etter Johnson, and Cyder Etter. Her brother (lifetime bestie and bestie/sister-in-law): David and Renee Griffith Jr, sister (lifetime bestie) and brother-in-law: Connie and Mike O’Neal, sister and bestie since grammar school Wendy Hudson, sister and brother-in-law: Tina and Jeff Ketner, sister Brandi Mangum, brother Brandon Fierro, stepsister Debbie Stuart and stepbrother Gary Davis.

She was the most amazing Nene to Natasha Brooks, Tyler Barisdale, Kolbi Brandt, Jacob Evenson, Darien Griffith, David Griffith III, Casey Vitali, Cory Hall, Sean O’Neal, Shannan O’Neal-Jacobson, Kyle Hudson, Ryan Hudson, Kenzie Hudson, Brandon Fowler, Tiffany Christianson-Port, Jennifer Ketner, Jordan Mangum, Michaela House, Ava Fierro, Aerien Fierro, Parker Fierro, Sarah Dillon, Ashley Stuart, John Urich. Great Nene to Kellan, Kinzley, Korbin, Kamden, Chandler, Harper, Kayson, Taytum, Louis, Aliyanna, Cameron, Grayson, Kaiden, Carson, Baby Girl Vitali (on her way), Devlin, Zayne, Hunter, Griffyn, Livy, Maddox, Jace, Jax, Sawyer, Avery, Logan, Holden (on his way), Soren, Madison, Asher, Jonathan, Hunter, Bryce, Kacee, Brogan, Echo, Oscar, JJ, Savannah, Aviannah, Ivy, John.

Special Aunt and Uncle Vickie and Alan Aust, special Uncle and Aunt Tom and Barbara Griffith, and Special Aunt Sherri Nieto. Plus, hundreds of cousins being from exceptionally large family, many of whom she was close to and they know who they are. Deni also had so many friends that loved her, I am not going to try and name them all and possibly forget someone. Her friends knew how she felt about them (if you were part of “Updates on Denise” she felt like you were more than just a friend). Special mention to Curtis Tatum for all the hours of friendship over the last year, especially during the last month of her life-we are so grateful to you. Ana for the many hours of talking and traveling to visit her and Terra for being her cancer warrior sister. John and Cindy Slater and Don and Melinda Doran for all your spiritual support that you gave Deni. A few months ago, John baptized Deni and it was such a special night for our whole family. Knowing that my sister accepted God before passing is comforting.

Denise was preceded in death by her Mother Mona Fuell Fierro, Grandparents: Bill and Elsie Griffith, Justin and Zemona (Beeba) Fuell, her ex-husband and friend Dan Simons, special brother-in-law Mark Hudson, lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins but specials ones were Marvin and Ruby Holmes, Jim and Billie Brown, John and Joyce Griffith, and Jack and Irene Eacker
Davie, Wendy, and Connie would like to thank Trish for changing her life to come home and take over her Mom’s household, which included a disabled lady (Dona), her 2 grandsons, foster kids and to take care of your Mom. Your Momma appreciated it, even when she did not feel her best and she was not easy to live with. My favorite is when I get calls from both of you because you were spending too much time together, fighting, and you both almost gave me a stroke. The best was when she needed to stay a night with me for Wendy to pick her up for an early morning appt and Trish kicked her out for 4 days lol. Mike and Connie loved having her at their house and she loved the guest bed, but they got a laugh out of her being “kicked out”.

The last 15 months Trish took care of the home Connie, Wendy, Mike, and Trish shared taking her to her many appointments and Davie joined many over the phone. Connie was lucky enough to spend time alone with her during trips to UCSF and will cherish those memories forever, her beautiful angel and sissy.

Our family would like to thank Dr. Baird for his care over the last 15 years but especially since her diagnosis. As well as Providence for their care over the last 15 months. This includes all of her Doctors, Oncology staff, chemo nurses, Radiation Oncology staff, and Med Surg staff that took care of her the last 2 ½ weeks of her life, especially Patti the Palliative NP and Hospitalist.

In lieu of flowers please plant something in her memory. If you would like to make a monetary donation in her name, kindly donate to Rio Dell Fire Hall or Eureka Rescue Mission.

Celebration of Life will be Saturday, January 24th @ 2 pm Rio Dell Fire Hall 50 West Center St Rio Dell, CA