A Life of Love
Nadine Lee Langston-Gritton of Canoga Park, California, peacefully passed away there on 27 December 2024 at the age of 82. She lived for over 50 years in the Canoga Park community. She was born in Topeka, Kansas, to Florence Haydon-Langston and Clarence Lee Langston on 30 March 1942. Nadine was born in her grandparents’ home (Haydon’s) where her parents initially lived. Two other siblings would follow Nadine’s birth (Goldie and Alice Langston).
At approximately five years old, Nadine’s grandmother, Frankie Hazel Edwards (mother of Clarence Lee) adopted Nadine. Shortly thereafter Frankie moved Nadine to live on a farm in Leavenworth, Kansas, and then later they moved to a farm in Valley Falls, Kansas. This early farm life instilled in her a lifelong love for plants, animals and the outdoors. When in middle school, Nadine and her grandmother relocated to Southern California to be closer to Frankie’s son, John W. Edwards (& family), while he served in the US Navy in San Diego. Nadine and her grandmother lived during these years on a boat in Coronado Bay, California. Nadine later graduated (1960) from Santa Monica High School. After graduation she planned to pursue modeling while being a department store buyer or beautician. These life plans, however, would have to wait as she met and married Norman Gritton while in high school. Late in 1960 she gave birth to a son, Jay Randall Gritton. Two years later she gave birth in Riverside, California, to her daughter, Tammy Lynn Gritton.
Motherhood brought immense joy to Nadine who herself was raised without a nurturing mother and father. Nadine was lovingly devoted to the education and spiritual needs of her children. She provided a nourishing and happy childhood to her children that included visits with extended family and wonderful vacations to Salt Lake City, the Grand Canyon and the great Southwest, and a Yosemite Park summer cabin. She further enriched her children’s lives by serving as Cub Scout leader and Brownie leader. She always inspired her children to have God and religion (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) in their lives and families. She also saw to her children’s participation in music and sports activities. Her love for the Lord, her children and grandson burned brightly throughout her life.
Throughout her younger years she researched her family tree and produced a detailed genealogy that she passed along to her children so that they would appreciate their roots. She found joy in discussing her family heritage.
While raising her children, Nadine studied art and became an accomplished multimedia artist that included oil and acrylics painting, knitting, sewing and quilting. In one case she painted a full sized portrait of her daughter in an Elizabethan dress. In other cases, she painted wall murals in her home…art was always all around her. She always signed her paintings “Je t’aime (French: I Love You).” Her art filled her California home but her garden was her retreat. She was particularly proud of her garden that was filled with many flowering plants such as roses, azaleas, irises and a rock garden. Her endlessly changing garden brought her much joy and peace.
After both separation from her husband and her grown children having departed her home, she pursued higher education and a satisfying career. She took many college classes in law, botany, art and interior design. She also acquired a long-desired degree in Cosmetology that allowed her to practice as a hair stylist for many years. In later years she developed a career in home interior design for a Woodland Hills, California, store. She loved beautifying her clients’ homes and bringing them great happiness.
Nadine regrettably suffered a debilitating stroke in 2008 that left her with partial paralysis. She thereafter entered Canyon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center residence where she lived for the last 16 years of her life. She greatly appreciated this facilities’ beautiful landscape (along with its scores of roses which was her favorite of all plants). In spite of her physical challenges, she sought to always inspire others by saying often that it was a “Spectacular Day.” She passed peacefully at this residence. She is survived by a son (Mr. Jay Gritton and wife Mary Lou Gritton), a daughter (Tammy Lynn Gritton-Jara), and a grandson (Chad Jara).
The family will hold a private service for Nadine followed by interment with her loving grandmother, Frankie Hazel Edwards, in Valley Falls Cemetery, Kansas. Nadine would hope that you have a Spectacular Day filled with love!
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.14.0