Our beautiful angel, Denise Renee Griffith Simons, age 59, of Redway, Calif., 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 two 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 nine months 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, whom she later married, and together they raised her children. They hosted many family gatherings in their beautiful home and yard throughout the years.

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

Deni devoted her life to her grandsons, born six days apart in 2011, August and Liam. She had them every chance she got, 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 also caring 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 houseplants). Deni was proud of the things she taught herself, becoming self-sufficient around the house. Her home was always decorated beautifully, and you could feel the love she put into it.

The hardest part of her cancer and treatment was that she no longer had the energy to cook. Deni loved to crochet, and she tried so hard to finish an afghan for each of her loved ones before her neuropathy became too severe. Casey spent a week with her Nene, giving Patricia a week off. During that time, Casey learned a couple of Nene’s best recipes and how to crochet.

Denise is survived by her loving children Kevin and Angelina Waters, Trish Johnson, and Justin Johnson; her father, David Griffith Sr.; and her grandsons Liam Waters, August Etter Johnson, and Cyder Etter. She is also survived by her brother (lifetime bestie and bestie/sister-in-law) David and Renee Griffith Jr.; her sister (lifetime bestie) and brother-in-law Connie and Mike O’Neal; her sister and best friend since grammar school, Wendy Hudson; her sister and brother-in-law Tina and Jeff Ketner; her sister Brandi Mangum; her brother Brandon Fierro; her stepsister Debbie Stuart; and her 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, and John Urich. She was a 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, and John.

She is also survived by 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 from an exceptionally large family, many of whom she was close to (and they know who they are). Deni also had many dear friends. We won’t attempt to name them all for fear of forgetting someone, but her friends knew how she felt about them. (If you were part of “Updates on Denise,” she considered you more than just a friend.)

Special mention goes to Curtis Tatum for all of his hours of friendship over the last year, especially during her last month—we are so grateful to you; to Ana for the many hours of talking and traveling to visit her; and to Terra for being her cancer-warrior sister. Thank you to John and Cindy Slater and Don and Melinda Doran for all of your spiritual support. A few months ago, John baptized Deni, which 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; her grandparents Bill and Elsie Griffith and Justin and Zemona (“Beeba”) Fuell; her ex-husband and friend Dan Simons; her special brother-in-law Mark Hudson; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins, including 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 two grandsons, foster kids, and caring for her mom. Your momma appreciated it, even when she did not feel her best and was not easy to live with. My favorite is when I’d 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 appointment, and Trish kicked her out for four 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.”

Over the last 15 months, Trish took care of the home, while 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 the Med-Surg staff who cared for her during the last 2½ weeks of her life—especially Patti, the palliative NP, and the hospitalist team.

Celebration of Life will be Saturday, January 24th at 2 p.m. at the Rio Dell Fire Hall, 50 West Center Street, Rio Dell, Calif.

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 the Rio Dell Fire Hall or the Eureka Rescue Mission.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Denise Renee Griffith Simons’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.