The summer of 2024 should have been like any other for the Griffith siblings—long days spent crisscrossing Jasper County in their father’s blue Chevy 3500, trailer in tow, the air thick with the smell of fresh-cut grass and gasoline. But that June, as lawns grew thick and green, their world frayed around the edges.

Their father, founder of Griffith Lawn Service, passed away after a courageous fight with brain cancer. Suddenly, the business wasn’t just a summer job anymore. It was a lifeline. A legacy. A family promise that couldn’t be broken.

“It’s a part of me that I don’t think I can let go,” said Cynthia Boldrey, the eldest of the three, now 25. “When he got sick in 2022, I told my brother I’d stay on until he graduated. But I think deep down, I knew I’d stay longer.”

And she did. Alongside Claire, 23, and Ethan, 18, the Griffith siblings stepped in and stepped up. They weren’t just mowing lawns—they were holding onto something their father had nurtured since 2001. They grew up in it, around it, with it. Cynthia was just a toddler when their dad started the company. The business and their childhoods share a timeline.

Now, with Ethan handling equipment maintenance, Claire coordinating schedules, and Cynthia overseeing operations with their mom Anita managing the books, they form a tight, intuitive team. “He taught me everything I know about this stuff,” Ethan said of his dad. “I’d watch him work, watch how he fixed things. Now I try to keep everything going.”

Ethan sharpens blades, changes oil, and fixes what he can. For more complex motor repairs, he knows when to call in help. Claire helps make routing decisions and customer scheduling—especially in weeks when weather threatens their finely tuned plans. “On a perfect week—which rarely happens—we stick to our schedule,” she said. “But when rain’s in the forecast or a church event comes up, priorities shift. We just figure it out.”

The three run lean, with no outside crews. At their peak, the company served over 120 clients. Today, they maintain around 50 lawns—still a formidable number. “We cut back so we wouldn’t kill ourselves trying to keep up,” Ethan said.

During the off-season, Claire and Cynthia teach school. Cynthia teaches fourth grade at Newton Elementary School; Claire is joining the third-grade team there this fall. Ethan, now a high school graduate, has committed fully to the business. “It didn’t plan out like I thought it would,” he admitted. “If Dad were still here, maybe I’d be going to college. But I think it’s best for me—and for the business—if I take it over full-time. I love being outside. I can’t see myself in a building all day.”

Despite their youth, the siblings bring an emotional maturity shaped by loss and by the lessons their dad left behind. “Every day, I think, ‘What would Dad do?’” Ethan said. “And I try to live up to that.”

Their story is anchored not just in hard work, but in the strength of their community. When their father was sick, neighbors stepped in—offering to mow lawns, bringing meals, organizing fundraisers like the one hosted by Flo’s Coffee Bar in town. “We saw people come out of nowhere to help,” said Claire. “They knew the lawns weren’t going to stop growing, and they just… showed up.”

“Friends, family, people I didn’t even think would care… they stepped up,” Ethan added. “It really showed me the impact Dad had.”

All three siblings are alumni of Newton Community High School. Cynthia graduated in 2017, Claire in 2020, and Ethan just recently. In school, Cynthia and Claire played tennis and were involved in band. Ethan pursued welding through FFA and earned his state degree, with a project in lawn care management—a fitting prelude to the road he’s now walking.

When asked what made Newton schools special, Claire reflected on the personal nature of her experience. “I remember all my teachers. And I got to go to school with Cynthia and our younger sister, Veronica. That was really meaningful.”

Veronica, now a nurse preparing to move to Evansville for a hospital job, rounds out the Griffith siblings. Though her work schedule often keeps her apart from the others, her role in the family’s strength is clear. “We don’t get to talk much lately,” Cynthia said, “but she’s doing important work. We’re proud of her.”

Each sibling carries a piece of their father's memory forward—not just through the work they do, but in the people they’ve become. When asked what they might tell their younger selves, the responses came quickly.

“Be nicer to Mom and Dad,” Ethan said. “Have patience. Time is precious.”

“Say what you need to say,” added Claire. “Not every day is promised.”

Cynthia paused before answering. “I’d tell myself to be more confident. I was that shy kid who never put herself out there. It shouldn’t have taken me until adulthood to find that confidence.”

Their reflections resonate. In a world where many young people struggle to find direction, the Griffith siblings have inherited more than a business—they’ve inherited a compass, one calibrated by family, community, and a quiet kind of courage.

Where they go from here isn’t set in stone. But for now, the grass keeps growing, and they keep mowing—steadily, faithfully, together.