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Patricia "Pat" Ann Jones Graves, 82, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on April 12, 2017 in Medicine Lodge, KS, surrounded by family.
She was born May 4, 1934, the daughter of Leo Augustine Jones and Margaret Elizabeth Brockman Jones.
She was preceded in death by parents, stepfather, Russell Williams, husband, Bob, grandson, Cheyenne Patrick Graves, and sister, Leona Marie Jones Young.
She is survived by her eight children, Suzie (Bruce) Reynolds of St. Joseph, MO, Russel (Rita) Graves of Kiowa, KS, Mary (Dwayne) Turnbow of Geneseo, KS, Laura (Bill) Nittler of Medicine Lodge, KS, Roberta (Ray) Trent of Wichita, KS, Chuck (Tammy) Graves of Kiowa, KS, Cecilia (Tom) Williams of Bartlesville, OK, Leo (Dana) Graves of Broken Arrow, OK, twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-six great-grandchildren; Nathan (Marietta), Aiden and Elijah Reynolds, Erin (Ryan), Myka and Abram Marshall, Sean (Danielle), Liam and Noah Reynolds, all of St. Joseph, MO, Josh (Jill), Ethan, Lilly, and Felicity Graves of Castle Rock, CO, Mariah (John), Gavin, Isaac, and Desiree Doherty, Zach (Komari) Graves, all of Kiowa, KS, Zeb (Andrea) and Levi Graves of Kiowa, CO, Robert (Carmen), Dana, Gregory, and Tryston Turnbow of Great Falls, MT, Stuart Turnbow of Geneseo, KS, Nick (Rachel), Holden and Hazel Turnbow of San Marcos, CA, Travis (Audrey), Gentry and Jovi Nittler of Maize, KS, Heather (Jason), Karlee and Jake Evans of Bucklin, KS, Tara (Tim) Ellis, Bucklin, KS, and Taylor Trent of Wichita, KS, Kyle (Jacy), Keaton, Kase and Jaylee Graves, Austin (Summer) and Taten Graves, all of Kiowa, KS, Rebekah Williams of Bartlesville, OK, Cameron Bishop, Kadie Graves, and Dakoda Graves of Broken Arrow, OK, and Chad Graves of Thackerville, OK. She is also survived by sister, Bunny (Don) Pfeiffer, and brother, John Williams, all of Alva, OK, brother-in-law, Joe (Mary) Graves of Hutchinson, KS, numerous nieces and nephews.
Pat was born and raised in Alva, OK. Her dad died of pneumonia when she was only five years old. A new "miracle drug", penicillin, had just been discovered and was on it's way from Wichita, but sadly didn't arrive in time. She attended grade school at Sacred Heart Catholic School and Alva High School, graduating with the class of 1952. Following high school, Pat attended one year of nurses training at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, KS.
She married Bob on September 1, 1953 at Sacred Heart Church in Alva, OK. Though Pat was born and raised a city girl, she quickly adapted to the country life. She was a very gifted artist and enjoyed riding along with Bob when he farmed, so she could sketch and paint the beautiful countryside. By October 1954, their first child was born, and between then and March 1963, seven more arrived. They raised their eight kids on the family farm north of Hardtner in the antebellum-style home built by George L. Graves, Sr. in the early 1900's, on land homesteaded in the late 1880's. The family belonged to St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, and Pat was an active member of the Altar Society. Many people have said they used to love to come early enough to church to see the eight Graves kids pile out of the van. Pat's number one priority was always her children. When asked what made her most proud, Pat immediately responded with "her babies," whom she constantly proclaimed as "The Best Eight Kids in Barber County". She was a 4-H leader for many years, and Pat never missed a program, parent/teacher conference or home sporting event for her children. She helped her husband Bob with the Amway business, and when the children had all left home, she was very successful with Creative Circle. Pat loved meeting and visiting with people, which accounted for her success with her Prairie Gifts shop that she ran from her home. She even designed and sold Christmas In Hardtner t-shirts.
Pat and Bob loved to dance, attending all of the local dances at what is now the Kiowa Community Building. They loved dancing so much that they journeyed to Wichita many Saturday nights to dance at the Cotillion Ballroom. Throughout their lifetimes, they danced at many family wedding dances. It was hard to tell who was having more fun, Bob and Pat or the kids and grandkids watching them.
As her Alzheimers disease progressed, she moved from her home in Hardtner to Share Long-Term Care where Bob was and eventually, to Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital Long-Term Care, so she would be closer to family. She developed a close relationship with many of the staff in both facilities, and for that, the family is so thankful. Mom loved singing songs to her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, and her family so enjoyed hearing them. Even during her last few years at the nursing home, she could be heard singing songs with the nurses, aides, and family. She will be greatly missed.
Special thanks to Sister Catherine Therese and Bev Miller for their guidance in planning this Celebration of Life for our mother. Additional thanks to The Women of St. John and the choir.
Memorials may be made to The Women of St. John or Heartland Hospice and sent to Lanman Funeral Home at P.O. Box 42, Kiowa, KS, 67070.
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