Jean Graves

Jean Claire Christian Graves passed away on October 21, 2009. She was born in Hattiesburg, MS on September 11, 1923. Jean loved cats, playing Scrabble and UTEP basketball. She and her daughter, India, were loyal fans in the stands since 1969. She liked to tell people “we even went the night of a big snowstorm when it was just us, Don (Haskins) and the players.” She read constantly, preferring to read something that was beautifully written than just a good story. She often said she’d read James Herriot’s grocery list before she’d read most of what was printed. Graham Greene and Gwyn Griffin were two of her favorites. She’d go anywhere, anytime; she would say “I’d go to a dog-fight in a back alley.” She traveled often to her grandson’s tennis matches, to visit daughter, Cierra, and grandchildren in Fort Worth, to Yuma to visit a niece, and up to Las Cruces to stay with her daughter Gillian and her family. Often she drove herself on these trips; even into her eighties. Jean wrote poetry and short stories throughout her life. She joined the Cactus Writing Group a few years back. She was treasured by them as indicated in this quote from a member: Jean Graves, By Janice Brooks Jean is who I want to grow up to be! She is an individual- quirky, unique, talented and fun. Her sense of humor is not politically correct, slightly irreverent and wonderful to the core. She is that rare person with a sense of style all her own. She dances to her own drumbeat while others lag behind. Her way with words is polished, stylistic and refined. Her characters capture a unique place and time and draw the reader in like a master writer. She paints poetic phrases and draws us into a masterpiece. She is ageless and can mesh with a wide variety of people from young to old. I would hate to have her angry with me as I believe her vocabulary would never leave her searching for an appropriate and pointed put-down.Jean Graves is feisty. She lives in her skin and it fits her beautifully. She truly lives. Jean loved horses. She often stated that the best time she ever had was riding with her daughter, Cierra, in the bosque. Her three youngest grandchildren loved to tell her, “Grandma, you’re a beast!”; a compliment given to only special people who live life to its fullest. And that she did. She hated people thinking she needed help or that she was an old lady. She loved her independence. She was insulted by what age was doing to her. Thus we, her family, feel blessed that she went quickly following an unexpected heart attack. She disliked ceremony of any type, so there will be no services. Anyone wishing to honor Jean’s memory can make a contribution to the Animal Rescue League. Jean was survived by her husband, Joseph Graves; daughters: Cierra Schiebel, India Graves and Gillian Hall; grandchildren: Daphne Rogstad, Koren Meacham, Tanner Brown, Kelsey Hughes, Wiley Hughes and Thayer Brown. Great- grandchildren: Hayden and Kelian Rogstad. Sons- in- law: Tom Meacham, Tommy Brown, David Hughes, Ed Schiebel and Robert Hall. Her oldest daughter, Candace Graves, preceded her in death. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West.