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Graham Steedsman Kime made his final journey home to be with the Lord he loved and served on February 4, 2015. During his final weeks of life, he was surrounded by loving family, church friends, and dance friends. His Celebration of Life service will be at Eden Chapel United Methodist Church, 9211 Fairgrounds Road, Perkins, Oklahoma, on February 9, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Graham was born on May 22, 1936, to missionary parents, Dallas Spencer Kime and Genevieve Graham Kime, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The family was serving in Celebes, Indonesia, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. Soon after, they spent eighty-three harrowing days escaping from the Japanese. Although Graham was only six when it happened, he remembered incredible details of the escape.
During WWII, the family lived in Tacoma Park, WA, Washington, DC, and Waco, TX. After WWII, they traveled to Jakarta and Java to resume missionary service.
In 1950, they moved to Gaston, Oregon, where Graham attended high school. Graham later attended Southwestern Junior College in Texas and sang in a quartet during his college years.
As a young adult, Graham worked for a pine mill and as a draftsman in Oregon.
He served in the Army from 1959 to 1961 at Ft. Sam Houston, TX and Ft. Lewis Base, Tacoma, WA, and was honorably discharged. He remained proud to serve and patriotic throughout his life. He worked as a Lab Tech in the service and continued that occupation at several hospitals.
Graham married Delma Dunn in 1959 and they had one child, Shelly Kime (Gourlay). They divorced when Shelly was young.
He later married Shirley Patrick, and helped rear her children, Sharon Warren and Shawn Patrick.
Graham and Shirley had an Arthur Murray franchise and they spent many years teaching ballroom dancing. Graham achieved certifications in Bronze, Silver, and Gold. He earned many trophies and awards during his dance career. Graham worked as a Kenny's Shoe Store manager and also worked for the University of Oklahoma. Shirley died in 2005.
In 2009, Graham married Stillwater native Barbara Wells. Graham gained a step-son, Clint Liles, with this union. Graham and Barbara shared a love of dancing and continued to teach in their Stillwater studio and at OSU. Graham and Barbara also shared a love of travel and took several cruises and road trips together, building many beautiful memories.
Graham loved Eden Chapel Church, and was active in the choir, bible studies, prayer groups, and other activities.
Graham was preceded in death by his parents, Dallas and Genevieve Kime; brother, Spencer (Bud) Kime; and sister, Barbara Kime (Lewis).
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Wells and her son Clint Liles; Graham's daughter, Shelly Kime Gourlay (husband Mike), granddaughters, Maddy and Sophie. He is also survived by Shirley's children, Sharon and Shawn. In addition, special friend, Candi Boone, has been like a daughter for many years. More recently, LaNell Davis, assisted Graham and Barbara through the ordeal of Graham's health issues and suffering; she is also like a daughter.
Graham's dance career spanned more than 50 of his 78 years. During his last days as he was entering the dream world of transition, he counted dance rhythms, teaching rumba, fox trot, swing, and cha-cha to people that his bedside sitters could not see. Music was always important to Graham, and sometimes he would direct a choir in his dream world. Dance friends are expecting to be reunited with him on "God's Great Dance Floor."
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Eden Chapel Church, PO Box 441, Perkins, OK 74059.
Condolences may be sent and obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.
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