Montgomery W. Griffin
Montgomery Wilson Griffin, known to everyone who loved him as Monte, passed away on March 21, 2026, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, at the age of 57. After being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in February, Monte fought fiercely for six weeks, meeting his illness with the same grit, heart, and determination that marked the way he lived.
Born on Oct. 4, 1968, in Provo, Utah, and raised in El Dorado, Arkansas, Monte was the kind of man people gravitated toward. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 1987, where his talent on the golf course earned him a scholarship to Louisiana Tech University. Jovial, warm, and quick to strike up a conversation with just about anyone, Monte had an easy smile, a generous spirit, and a way of making people feel welcome almost instantly. Some people carry light into a room. Monte simply did.
He was, above all, a family man.
For almost 30 years, Monte was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Susan Lynn Griffin, whose passing in July 2024, left a sorrow he carried deeply. Their love was beautiful to witness and unmistakable to those who knew them. Together, Monte and Susan built Somno Diagnostics in Hot Springs, Arkansas, creating a life marked by partnership, perseverance, and shared purpose.
He was also a proud and deeply loving father to his son, Montgomery Wilson Griffin, II, known as Wil. Some of Monte's happiest hours were spent beside Wil, fishing, hunting, and golfing, doing the simple, meaningful things that become life's most lasting treasures. Sunrise in the woods, water at daybreak, and the beauty of the Lord's creation were not small things to Monte. They were part of how he lived and how he loved.
Monte is survived by his mother, Sandy and husband James Matheney, Jr.; his father, Donald Griffin and wife Linda Griffin; his son, Montgomery Wilson Griffin, II (Wil); his brother Richard Griffin (Karen) of El Dorado; sisters, Leslie Pearson (Roy) of Bentonville and Amanda Griffin (Kristal) of Springdale, Arkansas along with many beloved nieces and nephews, a wide circle of friends, and a community of people whose lives were made better by knowing him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan Lynn Griffin; his grandparents, Jo Ellen and Earl Griffin, Josephine and Owen Proctor; and Barbara and Jim Matheney.
Monte's roots ran deep in El Dorado. Friends who knew him from childhood and school remember his smile, his competitive spirit, and the way he showed up fully in the moments that mattered, whether on the field, on the golf course, or outdoors across the Natural State. He carried that same spirit throughout his life: joyful, loyal, and fully engaged.
As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Monte lived with quiet faith and steady conviction. That faith shaped not only what he believed, but how he loved his family, how he treated others, and how he faced hardship. Those who loved him take comfort in the thought of a heavenly reunion already underway with Susan and the family who went before him, and in the peace of knowing he is whole and free from pain.
He will be remembered as a loving son, a protective brother, a devoted husband, and a remarkable father. He will be missed for his warmth, his laughter, his stories, his loyalty, and the way he made others feel seen. His son's tribute captures one of the truest parts of Monte's legacy: "Thank you for making me the man I am today." There is no finer measure of a father's life.
Monte's life cannot be reduced to dates on a page. He will be remembered in early morning light, in stories told with laughter, in quiet prayers, in fairways and flooded timber, in family gatherings, and in the enduring love he gave so freely. He was deeply loved, and he will be deeply missed.
A visitation, beginning at 1 p.m., will be held on March 30, 2026, with funeral services to follow at 2:30 p.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2765 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901. A graveside service will immediately follow at Crestview Cemetery, 3077 E Grand Service Road, Hot Springs, Arkansas. All who knew and loved Monte are welcome to attend the visitation, funeral, and graveside services.
Serving as pallbearers are Grayson Jones, Chad Huett, Jeff Stephens, Roy Pearson, Ben Pearson, Eli Pearson, Richard Griffin, Raygan Griffin and Montgomery Wilson Griffin, II.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HOPE Landing, 214 Hope Landing, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730,http://www.hopelanding.com, or to the American Cancer Society in memory of Montgomery Wilson Griffin, "Monte."
Mailed donations to the American Cancer Society may be sent to PO Box 140069, Dallas, Texas 75214.
Guests may register athttp://www.GrossFuneralHome.com.
